tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376616082024-03-07T02:57:39.969-05:00HollyworldThe blogging world of author, Holly Jacobs.HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.comBlogger556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-21904230143931175812024-02-12T05:10:00.000-05:002024-02-12T05:10:25.848-05:00Fast Nacht Kuchen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUr2yOIHPbTrofpyQXti5jvSNXNKQyMuyAAyOpW4ZJISJuqlnGEyz1tEOf6QMIamhDJlBaD4SUgegj8bWmk8EYchXbdKHyda_z2awn-3rs2iQguZJtwdkNENs8eN-QibV9ZNZ80U9HgxEzPqIjeTQiLqecSuxmsc7gTfUngzU7oy_ozwNcjkjE/s4032/IMG_4222.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUr2yOIHPbTrofpyQXti5jvSNXNKQyMuyAAyOpW4ZJISJuqlnGEyz1tEOf6QMIamhDJlBaD4SUgegj8bWmk8EYchXbdKHyda_z2awn-3rs2iQguZJtwdkNENs8eN-QibV9ZNZ80U9HgxEzPqIjeTQiLqecSuxmsc7gTfUngzU7oy_ozwNcjkjE/s320/IMG_4222.heic" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm getting ready for Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday. When I first became part of Himself's family, his mother taught me to make faz naught kigglies, the family name for Fast Nacht Kuchen. She was an Irish girl who married a German boy. My father-in-law's mother taught her to make this German dish that was made on Shrove Tuesday. I'd never had one before I met Himself...and those years without seems like wasted time. </p><p>It turns out there's some debate about the shape of the donuts. For me there's no question...triangles. My MIL made them that way, so for me, that's the proper way. But because I try to be an accepting human being who welcomes other opinions, I am open to trying other shapes. I mean, it would be a trial, but hey, I'll manage. So if you make circles or squares and want a taste tester, let me know.</p><p>There's also a debate on what to call them. For me, they'll always be faz naught kigglies because of my husbands family. I don't think anyone will mind what you call them as long as you call them when they're ready. <br /><br />I'm going to post this on Monday in case you've never made fast nacht kuchen and want to try them. Pretty much any not too sweet dough will work.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU48QT0bOPOD11UoAeN1n2uxBU2zSHFOsn5E4_UdhCqd2bVkbNA_OKnQcSimiz30JiCOsGJKLQk0s7O5I7mILePF2l81y7UdLtTfE0UKN8rD3iH94kpouXgpK2DFZejFSliDTiZbbwDJOd-3qKcs1s3MpTir9MBAEIXeicmRoUYyC4CXoWQ7sb/s3024/IMG_4223.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="3024" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU48QT0bOPOD11UoAeN1n2uxBU2zSHFOsn5E4_UdhCqd2bVkbNA_OKnQcSimiz30JiCOsGJKLQk0s7O5I7mILePF2l81y7UdLtTfE0UKN8rD3iH94kpouXgpK2DFZejFSliDTiZbbwDJOd-3qKcs1s3MpTir9MBAEIXeicmRoUYyC4CXoWQ7sb/s320/IMG_4223.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br />My MIL never gave me a specific bread recipe. But I bought this really cute Pennsylvania Dutch recipe book in Cook Forest and have used this recipe for decades. (<i>Our family always called it Cooks Forest, but since I've started my State Park hiking, I know it's Cook Forest.</i>)<p></p><p>So here's my version of this recipe. I used to double it when the kids were young and they took in trays for their classes, but these days I half it. That's ample for Minions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5gXpJvHeoGCUO9Px9QjH6KBGFvReIIqJ31BP3yTUsL7vwnMt9s6OP9XRiMeRnbvwxx51wNiuXaLZpHqe51PaaA257G0SKdkWtIVoN7prixoQK5lqoxJ-qsDqnWT-Uf69NfjUVDzDU1cYCGuxJKhK6Vgc2eIt0MbXnppWmUY5Y_WlxI-uP9Uz/s3128/IMG_4224.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3128" data-original-width="1454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5gXpJvHeoGCUO9Px9QjH6KBGFvReIIqJ31BP3yTUsL7vwnMt9s6OP9XRiMeRnbvwxx51wNiuXaLZpHqe51PaaA257G0SKdkWtIVoN7prixoQK5lqoxJ-qsDqnWT-Uf69NfjUVDzDU1cYCGuxJKhK6Vgc2eIt0MbXnppWmUY5Y_WlxI-uP9Uz/w186-h400/IMG_4224.heic" width="186" /></a></div>1 TB honey<br />3 1/4 C milk<br />8 C flour<div>1 TB dry yeast</div><div>1/2 C butter</div><div>2 eggs<br /><br />I make the dough Monday evening and let it rise overnight. </div><div>In the morning, I punch it down and roll out sections, cutting them in to <i>triangles</i>. I use pretty much every cookie sheet and cutting board I have to let them rise a second time for at least an hour.<br /><br />I heat up a couple inches of oil in my big cast iron frying pan (<i>it doesn't have to be very deep...these are thin</i>) and when it's sizzley (<i>I have no temperature for you...I just drop a piece of dough in to check that it bubbles</i>). I do a half dozen fast nachts at a time. (<i>Don't crowd the pan...it will lower the temp of the oil and make them sort of greasy.</i>) When they're lightly browned on both sides, I drop them into a bag of cinnamon sugar and shake them so they're coated. REPEAT until all the dough's been fried.<br />These are best served immediately or quickly. They're not super sweet, which means it's easy to eat a lot of them. I mean, I do have to test them...I wouldn't want to serve an inferior fast nacht. And because I'm up early working on these, I need a lot of coffee and these are perfect with coffee.<p>I've found a lot of Mennonite branches in my family tree. Most came from Lancaster. So there's a really good chance, my family made these and my mother-in-law reintroduced me to a part of my personal history without either of us knowing it. I like thinking of that. My mother-in-law was an amazing woman. We lost her twenty years ago (<i>I wrote a fictionalized version of her in <a href="https://amzn.to/49OrKz9" target="_blank">Briar Hill Road</a></i>) and I still can't believe she's been gone that long. We bought her house and, though over the years, things have changed, there's so much of her and my father-in-law in it. I'll be thinking of both of them on Tuesday when I get up in the wee hours and make some fast nacht kigglies for the Minions and I'll know that before I even joined the family, she would have been up early in the kitchen making them as well. I love the continuity of that. When my kids were little, I'd send down their classes a tray of fast nachts each Shrove Tuesday. I won't make quite that many this year, but I will make enough for Minions and Himself's colleagues. </p><p>Traditions. </p><p>There's something about carrying on family traditions and passing them on to the next generation. Do you have any Shrove Tuesday traditions?</p><p>Holly</p><p>Check out my newest releases:</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Exclusively available for Kindle and KU.<br /><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tytfS4" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a></i></b><br />Book 1, 2 , 3, 4 and 5 are available now! Three more are on their way this year.</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/s1125/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/w133-h200/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><p></p><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><strong>Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #2 <a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Nook</a>
A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #1 </strong></em><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi98VIQj8Y" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln on Jeopardy!!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s970/A+HometownHearts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s320/A+HometownHearts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3rIuUUF" target="_blank">Hometown Hearts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-10699827027388084672024-01-03T12:31:00.005-05:002024-01-03T12:36:25.849-05:00January '24 Newsletter<div style="color: #1d2228; 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display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 200px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px; text-indent: -9999px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="200" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlockOuter" style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlockInner" style="outline: none; padding-top: 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; outline: none; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><h1 style="color: #222222; font-size: 40px; line-height: 60px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">New Year...a New Read</h1></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr style="outline: none;"><td align="center" id="yiv0192095291templateBody" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 45px; padding-top: 36px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291bodyContainer" style="background: none 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlockOuter" style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlockInner" style="outline: none; padding-top: 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; outline: none; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 22px; line-height: 33px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><em style="outline: none;">Happy New Year!</em><br style="outline: none;" /> </h3><img align="left" height="225" src="https://ecp.yusercontent.com/mail?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmcusercontent.com%2Feccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%2Fimages%2Faceb5c0a-bd94-5aaf-a98b-a9fb25b6f875.jpg&t=1704302532&ymreqid=d41d8cd9-8f00-b204-1ce1-d00084018000&sig=hWFu9rcIuAxpp4TwRPAMwg--~D" style="border: 3px; height: auto; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; min-height: 225px; outline: none; text-indent: -9999px; width: 150px;" width="150" />I finally landed on my Word of the Year...Peace. Most of the time, my words are for me to build a year around, but this year, I'm hoping the entire world embraces peace.<p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that the new year just brings you joy...and peace.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" />The 5th Around the Square book, Royal in Hiding, is a Kindle and Kindle Unlimited exclusive...and it's out now! I hope you'll pick up a copy of the first book in my royal trilogy that's set inside the series. I've always said, Erie has everything...even royalty!</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnButtonBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody class="yiv0192095291mcnButtonBlockOuter" style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td align="center" class="yiv0192095291mcnButtonBlockInner" style="outline: none; padding: 0px 18px 18px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnButtonContentContainer" style="background-color: #009fc7; border-radius: 3px; outline: none;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td align="center" class="yiv0192095291mcnButtonContent" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; outline: none; padding: 18px; word-break: normal;" valign="middle"><a href="https://amzn.to/46nEETd" rel="nofollow">Start Shopping</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; outline: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;"><tbody class="yiv0192095291mcnDividerBlockOuter" style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 18px; word-break: normal;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnDividerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td style="outline: none; word-break: normal;"><span style="outline: none;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBlockOuter" style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBlockInner" style="outline: none; padding: 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBottomContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; outline: none; width: 282px;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td align="center" class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBottomImageContent" style="outline: none; padding: 0px 9px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="yiv0192095291mcnImage" src="https://ecp.yusercontent.com/mail?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmcusercontent.com%2Feccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%2Fimages%2F59be8b2a-edc9-1381-aa4f-cdfa1c17d499.png&t=1704302532&ymreqid=d41d8cd9-8f00-b204-1ce1-d00084018000&sig=RyZaZduwtfqR7BoRlJ8iUg--~D" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 2790px; outline: none; text-indent: -9999px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="264" /></td></tr><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; outline: none; padding: 0px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top" width="282"><h4 style="color: #949494; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">And don't forget the second Harry's Pottery book, Slip and Fall, is out now!<br style="outline: none;" />In Slip and Fall, Harry discovers why there's a dead body in her kiln. Now, she's got a dead slip & fall scammer murdered. She's on the case...again.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;">Amazon</span></span> </a><br style="outline: none;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;">Kobo</span></span> </a><br style="outline: none;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #007c89; outline: none;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><br style="outline: none;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;">Barnes and Noble</span></span> </a></h4></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBottomContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; outline: none; width: 282px;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td align="center" class="yiv0192095291mcnCaptionBottomImageContent" style="outline: none; padding: 0px 9px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="yiv0192095291mcnImage" src="https://ecp.yusercontent.com/mail?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmcusercontent.com%2Feccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%2Fimages%2F4b2ba384-956c-cc32-58c4-1db6ffbbeecd.jpg&t=1704302532&ymreqid=d41d8cd9-8f00-b204-1ce1-d00084018000&sig=VWcl_jr1SUVDbA0x9NDrGA--~D" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 200px; outline: none; text-indent: -9999px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; outline: none; padding: 0px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top" width="282"><h4 style="color: #949494; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Books You May Have Missed<br style="outline: none;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; outline: none;">Review:<em style="outline: none;"> "I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an honest romance, a slice of life book, or a book which deals with families. I can't think of anyone to whom I would not recommend this book. If I could give it more than five stars, I would do so."</em></span></h4><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/41JEGTS" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;">Shop Now</span></span> </a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlockOuter" style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextBlockInner" style="outline: none; padding-top: 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; outline: none; width: 100%;"><tbody style="outline: none;"><tr style="outline: none;"><td class="yiv0192095291mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; outline: none; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: normal;" valign="top"><img align="right" height="150" src="https://ecp.yusercontent.com/mail?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmcusercontent.com%2Feccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%2Fimages%2Fb493da5b-e819-a27d-b074-498aae8fe06c.png&t=1704302532&ymreqid=d41d8cd9-8f00-b204-1ce1-d00084018000&sig=qDYeBmfxhchze3a7aDkMbg--~D" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px 5px; min-height: 150px; outline: none; text-indent: -9999px; width: 150px;" width="150" />As always, thank you so much for all your support! Tallulah, Mabel and I wish you a wonderful 2024!<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" />Holly<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="mc_embed_shell">
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HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-30873518508856272932024-01-01T06:16:00.000-05:002024-01-01T06:16:23.440-05:002024 Word of the Year<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHo6zbp3GIf_T6B14wvHpmBUpKEAr2wdlZLWVfJbj6c9a_coWzqHrNY99hy1aodLeBZUYofspPLzZy2DyL4cw6kR92Ly4X-nOoNAwzYNq-vQ_E-9Lgz_GzfJTbzrHfOIn24AxRg0mzbWCr9iYcUCWGN3ONhdjJQpzPeJgxGMf2ppacGxk73y_/s960/Word%20of%20the%20Year.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHo6zbp3GIf_T6B14wvHpmBUpKEAr2wdlZLWVfJbj6c9a_coWzqHrNY99hy1aodLeBZUYofspPLzZy2DyL4cw6kR92Ly4X-nOoNAwzYNq-vQ_E-9Lgz_GzfJTbzrHfOIn24AxRg0mzbWCr9iYcUCWGN3ONhdjJQpzPeJgxGMf2ppacGxk73y_/s320/Word%20of%20the%20Year.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I really put some thought into a word to build a year on. I mean, having one word carry the weight of an entire year on its back is an awesome responsibility. So I mull. Even when I think I have my word, I still mull. I want to get it right. <p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVWAY2md9AYbOB6WPUNPBEZ-W8hi501XPNpJNLSPltNTPT1hIYSQCpaD6b-WbJVjK6Xdyq6BAnEpsimD5oo8w9LptLvd_H-BoPwGoNE-5ggekWoX94xU6czZMgMo6hnBDGG888JxqByitRGrg4f87hMQZ-WG6p9UB4s1zn6qUgeZqYvNpnM3S/s1080/NopeHOMETOWN%20CHRISTMAS%20Ad.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVWAY2md9AYbOB6WPUNPBEZ-W8hi501XPNpJNLSPltNTPT1hIYSQCpaD6b-WbJVjK6Xdyq6BAnEpsimD5oo8w9LptLvd_H-BoPwGoNE-5ggekWoX94xU6czZMgMo6hnBDGG888JxqByitRGrg4f87hMQZ-WG6p9UB4s1zn6qUgeZqYvNpnM3S/w182-h182/NopeHOMETOWN%20CHRISTMAS%20Ad.png" width="182" /></a></div>Drum roll...</div><div><br /></div><div>2024's word is...<br /><br />PEACE.</div><div><br /></div><div>Normally, my word is just about me. Given the state of the world right now, I've expanded my word to the entire world. It seems like a perfect global word to build a year on. I try to keep my social media upbeat and positive, but that doesn't mean I don't see what's going on around me. I ache for all those who are suffering physically, mentally and spiritually. I stand with every person or nation who strives for peace. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's my macro hope.</div><div><br /></div><div>My micro hope for the year is finding peace within myself. I'll confess, I find it on a regular basis when I'm out in nature. Everything seems to slow down. I can hear myself think. The worries of the world melt away. (<i>Of course, sometimes my weekend peace is interrupted when in the midst of my nature walk the dogs find poop and roll in it. I blame Tallulah who has always loved stinky stuff...she's teaching Mabel bad habits.</i>) </div><div><br /></div><div>That personal peace can collide with world peace. I'm not under any illusions that I can change hearts and minds worldwide, but maybe, just maybe, I can make one person feel just a bit lighter. Just a bit more positive. Just a bit more..peaceful. And maybe that person will spread their peace to another. And maybe they'll spread it and... Well, you get my point. My heroine in A Hometown Christmas says she knows she can't save the world, but she can try. That's just it. I believe that things like Peace, Hope, Charity are contagious. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So in this new year, I hope to be a super spreader and share my peace with all of you. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy, Happy New Year! May 2024 bring us all a bit closer to our best selves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Holly</div><div><br /></div><div><b>PS Check out my books:</b><br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Book #5 is out tomorrow!!<a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Exclusively available for Kindle and KU.<br /><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tytfS4" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a></i></b><br />Book 1, 2 , 3 & 4 are out now. <br />Book 5 is available for preorder!</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/s1125/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/w133-h200/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><p></p><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><strong>Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #2 <a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Nook</a>
A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #1 </strong></em><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi98VIQj8Y" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln on Jeopardy!!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s970/A+HometownHearts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s320/A+HometownHearts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3rIuUUF" target="_blank">Hometown Hearts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-58352728200312602402023-12-21T09:10:00.000-05:002023-12-21T09:10:00.288-05:00Being a Woman<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/npiMCbkw4jk?si=hQlBXz5TG0nbde2M" width="480"></iframe></div><div>I watched Barbie this weekend and loved it. Loved the message and loved the memories. Oh, how I loved my Barbies. I had two Malibu Barbies that I dubbed the twins. I had a Ken who couldn't keep his head on his shoulders. I had a black haired Barbie...who was my first one. And... Well there was a whole gang. Oh the adventures they had. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to confess, the movie got me thinking about my life and who I am. What sort of woman I am. I've spent most of my life working as a writer...working for myself. There was no man I answered to. I've worked some marvelous female editors (if you're one of them reading this...thank you!). I've been surrounded by a cadre of women writers who've supported me and over the years have become more than colleagues, but rather friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I'm more than a writer. That comes second to my other main job. I'm a mother of four—three are daughters. Looking back, I know I wasn't a perfect mother. God knows, I wasn't perfect. But I did try to be perfect in my attempt. I apologized when I was wrong. I tried to be there for them. And I hoped they saw in me a strong woman who spent her life trying to do her best and loving them wholeheartedly.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJXX5dipfZHsWGiP7zx_QR1FO5zSDv49Puamma2QeWyqlO5PkkFQJWvofPs8eX06bYs1WP-YPNJk5mDyrB-B8vZCYZVpCbIiyGBgvu7TUptt4NoJ1Dz3297SvmQmPplO2UJ9WNQliBCKa55hxP2kag3pWk90gvLcBzCAAVI0ygBLDGHl8eGN7/s522/capsfor%20sale.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJXX5dipfZHsWGiP7zx_QR1FO5zSDv49Puamma2QeWyqlO5PkkFQJWvofPs8eX06bYs1WP-YPNJk5mDyrB-B8vZCYZVpCbIiyGBgvu7TUptt4NoJ1Dz3297SvmQmPplO2UJ9WNQliBCKa55hxP2kag3pWk90gvLcBzCAAVI0ygBLDGHl8eGN7/s320/capsfor%20sale.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />Do you remember <i>Caps for Sale</i>? The peddler wore a stack of hats on his head and had to balance them carefully. That's what being a woman is. Balancing a stack of hats as you walk through life trying to avoid the monkeys. The things you expect of yourself. The things others expect of you. Every choice you make adds a hat to the pile you carry.</div><div><br /></div><div>I raised four kids. I've cared for other kids. I was a kindergarten story lady (like Pip in <i>Carry Her Heart</i>). I was on the PTA (like my <i>PTA Mom</i> trilogy). I was on the school board. I volunteered in a Teen Parenting program. I planned the kids game for our school's Feather Party (like <i>Once Upon a Thanksgiving</i>). When I was young, I cared for three younger brothers after school. Then I cared for my kids. Then my grandmother as she got older. My mother-in-law when she got sick (like <i>Briar Hill Road</i>). I cared for my neighbor, Marge, who had no one. We made her family. Now I care for the Minions and an aunt and...caring. That's been my life's major calling. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back to <i>Caps for Sale</i>...I've dropped hats. Over and over again, the monkeys have come along and I've lost all my hats. But after a moment, I stopped, picked them up and kept going.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's what being a woman is for me. A series of dropping my hats and then picking them up and getting on with it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I agree with Barbie...being a woman is hard. But it's a joy. I might juggle a lot of hats and I might not be perfect, but truly it's been my glee. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/s831/HJF%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="831" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/w58-h41/HJF%20copy.jpg" width="58" /></a>Holly</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgee5n-I1TWpJUa7oR-SfEGVDU6zkwGvN-Ksq-hnSATFpjYAiJjZGGCPCckvPQLWNeAUtl6ZGc0U3vMec_7A8R0jViqcT6pBvvNal-xqHixoS8NxBuGJ00FeoyxljSsfnfQ0nNGWt50JDnJzn95QZ-QeUqvRVVnxfMoklcBjYLlVXE37ebnfCpH/s2401/HOMETOWN%20CHRISTMAS%20AMZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgee5n-I1TWpJUa7oR-SfEGVDU6zkwGvN-Ksq-hnSATFpjYAiJjZGGCPCckvPQLWNeAUtl6ZGc0U3vMec_7A8R0jViqcT6pBvvNal-xqHixoS8NxBuGJ00FeoyxljSsfnfQ0nNGWt50JDnJzn95QZ-QeUqvRVVnxfMoklcBjYLlVXE37ebnfCpH/s320/HOMETOWN%20CHRISTMAS%20AMZ.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />On Sale for $.99:<br /><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">A Hometown Christmas</span><br style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; outline: none !important;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; outline: none !important; vertical-align: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mLsbmu" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; outline: none !important; vertical-align: inherit;"><br style="outline: none !important;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-hometown-christmas-holly-jacobs/1139217375" target="_blank">Nook</a></span><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; outline: none !important; vertical-align: inherit;"><br style="outline: none !important;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-hometown-christmas" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; outline: none !important; vertical-align: inherit;"><br style="outline: none !important;" /><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/hometown-christmas/id1562701981" target="_blank">iBooks</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/918NRgqi1zL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/918NRgqi1zL._SL1500_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Christmas in Cupid Falls is on sale at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cupid-Falls-Holly-Jacobs-ebook/dp/B00J9P2ENS?crid=3MLMVRZ79Z6UL&keywords=christmas+in+cupid+falls&qid=1703096213&s=books&sprefix=christmas+in+cupid+falls%2Cstripbooks%2C111&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=holljaco-20&linkId=799a715b60bb9efa6649b01ee58a900f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Amazon</a> for $.99/<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/s1125/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/w133-h200/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><p></p><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><strong>Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #2 <a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Nook</a>
A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #1 </strong></em><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi98VIQj8Y" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln on Jeopardy!!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Exclusively available for Kindle and KU.<br /><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tytfS4" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a></i></b><br />Book 1, 2 , 3 & 4 are out now. <br />Book 5 is available for preorder!</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s970/A+HometownHearts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s320/A+HometownHearts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3rIuUUF" target="_blank">Hometown Hearts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-28972897350171792322023-12-05T11:16:00.003-05:002023-12-05T11:16:51.377-05:00A Hometown Christmas<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Y8KldxdMpbE?si=Y0i4fzoFcympFjcD" width="480"></iframe></div><div><br />Happy Holidays...or should I say, HOLLYdays??!!<br /><br />I know I've been talking about my new release, Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery, but today I'm talking about A Hometown Christmas...it's on sale for $.99 just in time for Christmas! Come join my hometown gang and celebrate with this very special holiday story!</div><div><br /></div><div>One of my all time favorite reviews from a Hallmark Holiday movie friend, was, "This should be a Harllmark movie." I'll let you know if Hallmark calls! LOL In the meantime, I hope you'll give it a read! </div><div><br /></div><div>I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, whatever holiday you celebrate! </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/s831/HJF%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="831" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/w58-h41/HJF%20copy.jpg" width="58" /></a></div><br />Holly<p></p><p>PS. While you're shopping the sale, check out my most recent books and pre-order the what's-coming-next ones?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/s1125/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/w133-h200/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><p></p><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><strong>Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #2 <a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Nook</a>
A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #1 </strong></em><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi98VIQj8Y" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln on Jeopardy!!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Exclusively available for Kindle and KU.<br /><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tytfS4" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a></i></b><br />Book 1, 2 , 3 & 4 are out now. <br />Book 5 is available for preorder!</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s970/A+HometownHearts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s320/A+HometownHearts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3rIuUUF" target="_blank">Hometown Hearts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-45231870206675580272023-11-01T12:05:00.002-04:002023-11-01T12:05:40.435-04:00Holly's November Newsletter<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" id="m_6788362682326037456templateHeader" style="background: none 50% 50% / cover no-repeat rgb(247, 247, 247); border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 45px; padding-top: 45px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456headerContainer" style="background: none 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnImage CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhAwhHUtX1F3Likr6dH6HKP-kL_1m1UYMxXDyOLZBfhwv7yJkpLCcX5MRQ1uWPxU9URyGnR4BK3EUcB0Apo-spJhHKyvIab2J9fVxSOxMgDEEn9as3Z5TNdqPlvR5D5vOpfBEGTEee71qYmO_y3CiHka5j7zr73PrD-UkkPm6u4uiyp51Lxno-tjyrRfvYX8P5813JjN2IhxjccKYHmWA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 2790px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="0" width="231.23999999999998" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><h1 style="color: #222222; font-size: 40px; line-height: 60px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Harry's back with book #2...<br />Slip and Fall</h1></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" id="m_6788362682326037456templateBody" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 45px; padding-top: 36px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456bodyContainer" style="background: none 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnImage CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiq00zBvql5yECzyVVDb7dhQeF0E9N4kAMyJd4gHTrBc9ucbTX9d-4LJxT-MYSD50exEqRhEfCl_lh12cAbpA3VKjaJkX1s-95uCLAl2pgSEPYFIEbebPa_Vn9hoqRwKg3mf1gFGuWcMDucwL05eifK_5evnCA_qgukZgpwUlQcxWWXkgksMpGPyBKB70lhjNeeXfzOBuyrTrWDrVfL_w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 970px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="0" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 22px; line-height: 33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Harry's Kiln' It!</h3><p style="line-height: 24px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px;">Harry's solved the mystery of a dead body in her kiln. All this potter wants to do is get back to her studio, back to the life she's built...and back to her budding romance with attorney, Micah McCain. Then a customer slips and falls...and ends up dead. Looks like Erie, PA's small business owner and budding sleuth is back on the case.<br /><br />Can Harry juggle friends, family and solve a murder...for a second time? She's not Claying Around!<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">Apple Books</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnCaptionBottomContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 282px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px 9px;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnImage CToWUd" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj_1cgv8DyQ7Z0CHm-H-ysQLhSQTJNpgVSEo64YXzNoiqTd1M_WhyTj_pXtHPeThQ8_Vo6YhRzm7rCBwH0MBm_1F-FPqzJZwOJMmEFVDFZLPRNsb6cn3_dJEx0m9ZgdkTYsuj_N3yEdF0D5QoVKvtkGaLGogSwFsxN2GwXot83hN72ohvo93TV6RuPmMTpX19046jqMq_CH0PMWyTEePw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 200px; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="282"><h4 style="color: #949494; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Harry's 1st, bestselling story:<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a><br /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" target="_blank">Apple Books</a></h4></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnCaptionBottomContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 282px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px 9px;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnImage CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhGH3wU9tHHp8JAZadPcLbVv3ctEQXyCWC0KNrLRwZ34Xj3Samz7u9-6JIcjm-dssPD-rm9pFNNkKWCwgP0GKU4LmqRNMd1VfUOLNhgcY3yyFDQ8EJmBUWAtybdHoSbxqe9DvOmIK5HnWM9JoOmAw8JZcK2mcrMAjeU8bTLdmgQdC4kSuH8jjMMkdtXG8ggkmg4kfELC4j7aI8aKEESdw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: auto; max-width: 1220px; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="0" width="264" /></td></tr><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top" width="282"><h4 style="color: #949494; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Check out Harry's Pottery Jeopardy appearance on <a href="https://youtu.be/MMi98VIQj8Y?si=XTyp6E0YgPaHNLDR" target="_blank">YouTube!</a></h4></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_6788362682326037456mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">Happy Fall, everyone! I've been busy since I talked to you last. Himself (<em>my husband</em>) went out for donuts and came home with...a puppy! Yes, Tallulah has a baby sister, Mabel. <a href="https://youtu.be/wA3NmclanYw?si=trH--a5IYqgfNM3_" target="_blank">She discovered snow this morning</a>.<br /><br />I had a busy summer in the studio. Lots of new things and so much fun! You can find pics of some of the pieces on my social media. I love that Harry's Pottery combines my love of writing with my love of...well, claying! <br /><img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi4cn61dcMov9HQNbudRWNpWWuqB1z6_aT2yBFUBihCHMmPA3Qtb6DsEMhK3trknT31DGNsvQ5aD06w7VjNV0Y5o7x2NeMRmSA5cx4ptTZ5O0awyt9axfZHI3td3hg4H7J-03HllUZSrbL3Ws2Ryu2IqhbAjmNK32H6q6XAYjaKEgRKnBUIgm_myZhgbX5Ba3ILlYy3seleOHkLckz7wAqCdgZ-xg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 169px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" /><br />The fifth book in the Around the Square series is out in the new year. It's Kindle/KU exclusive. You can <a href="https://amzn.to/3YCCFGI" target="_blank">check it out here.</a> <br /><br />Have a great holiday season! I'll talk to you in the new year!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/s831/HJF%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="831" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/w58-h41/HJF%20copy.jpg" width="58" /></a></div><br />Holly<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/s1125/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/w133-h200/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><p></p><p><em style="text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><strong>Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #2 <a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Nook</a>
A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #1 </strong></em><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi98VIQj8Y" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln on Jeopardy!!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Exclusively available for Kindle and KU.<br /><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tytfS4" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a></i></b><br />Book 1, 2 , 3 are out now. <br />Book 5 is available for preorder!</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s970/A+HometownHearts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s320/A+HometownHearts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3rIuUUF" target="_blank">Hometown Hearts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></p><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" id="m_6788362682326037456templateFooter" style="background: none 50% 50% / cover no-repeat rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 63px; padding-top: 45px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-59810340814139049872023-10-14T09:26:00.001-04:002023-10-14T09:32:43.404-04:00Getting Older...is like a good piece of cast iron.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVH8qayq146lEjpW1fupnhOavx71QKCV20xmtSEYAEPGaGmNBC2dOICQOVsS4bnqDfMWQ0_TODvS25_QhvBQRK8MIclXekSZOuAIc8LavTBsio0PMWU7z0lV4gIECZtHWQUWvEH2-nbJUqODD4_yZVitTC8_Q_w_E_Hk6o97mvGk0emIYitc7/s4032/IMG_3294.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVH8qayq146lEjpW1fupnhOavx71QKCV20xmtSEYAEPGaGmNBC2dOICQOVsS4bnqDfMWQ0_TODvS25_QhvBQRK8MIclXekSZOuAIc8LavTBsio0PMWU7z0lV4gIECZtHWQUWvEH2-nbJUqODD4_yZVitTC8_Q_w_E_Hk6o97mvGk0emIYitc7/s320/IMG_3294.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br />A new blog suggested by Liz...<p></p><p>We're all getting older.</p><p>I know, I know. Some people would like to ignore that, but I'll confess, I embrace my aging. I find myself just a bit happier and a bit more comfortable in my own skin as I get older. I love the life I've built with Himself. I love the family we've built. Well, I'm happy.</p><p>Maybe I don't mind getting older so much because I have a fondness for old things. My house is filled with antiques. I was talking about buying a Griswold pan for all my Minions. I want one to give each of them as they graduate. (<i>I know, it's a few years off, but I like to be prepared.</i>) I've been teaching them to cook...and a lot of my cooking is in my Griswold, so that's where they're learning. I would like all of them to be fully functioning humans when they are young adults. Learning to feed yourself and others is a part of that. Learning to care for your personal needs is another...which is why after a summer-of-cooking, next summer is going to be the summer-of-laundry. They're going to learn how to do their own laundry, fold it and put is away. (<i>I do love summer-themes...a couple summers ago, we had a summer-of-rafting. We built a few with varying degrees of success and eventually came up with a working raft! And you can ask the Minions about their summer-of-salad...loving salad was not the result, but they can all eat a salad, I'll call that a win.</i>)</p><p>Back to the Griswold. The cast iron pans were made here in Erie. (<i>If you read my books, you know how much I love writing about my hometown. I love collecting things from Erie as well.</i>) The pan I cook in almost daily is over 100 years old. It's old, but still functional. One of the pieces we picked up recently was rough. It was rusted and had some pitting. We've been working on it and it's once again functional. It's developing a nice finish. It might be a bit worse for wear, but it does it's job.</p><p>That's what I'm hoping for as I age. Maybe I'll be a bit rusty with some pitting, but I want to still get the job done. I want to be hanging with the kids as they learn to build rafts, learn to cook, and do their own laundry. And so many other things. I want to help them find the beauty in the outdoors. I want to make them ask questions and go looking for the answers. I want them to be fully functional humans. <br /></p><p>I've always been a fan of the triple goddess. Maiden, Mother and Crone. I found my younger years uncomfortable, and truly felt I came into my own in those mid-years, raising kids and caring for the elderly in my life. And I look at the crone-years with a sense of potential. The kids don't need me the same way. The Minions still have a few things to learn from me, but they don't need me as intensely. I feel like I'm coming into my own. Like my Griswold, I might show my years, but I still have work to do and I can still get it done! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I can't wait to see what comes next!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/s831/HJF%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="831" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNnrS3l8-3mIVOemiYe-kyQvJok-LRZYviNwr8FDNW2e4KmMUkc2poexfinLEJtRdbzbsMJyeGgTwutEWQ_hiaNue0I7HdeFrK_5TEdU7nrDtEtAJa4V7HBgmlkiq-mM7OunpV5tzSz3jDR4hulrL1ENbnaGg5tS6qG-PoA98JAFtXcF6Chcs/w58-h41/HJF%20copy.jpg" width="58" /></a></div><br />Holly<p></p><p>PS. Speaking of what comes next, have you read my most recent books and pre-ordered the what's-coming-next ones?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/s1125/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMPVxp_CpRRT_FdMq8XAF3NaZ_P3Z9eShS5QkOSsVMxW4xCOTvcY_0yZAi_vaARYshtjs2XJ896FgvATe8xryGLkl9BRWoBrRmDCzloMpyeayO9Gug-Vxee_Gx7ApU36Z1Gs6S1mL_Om24-_riLmMu46Q4rEZWi-bvMhWIERa3llL0zrwpBZ/w133-h200/%20SLIP%20AND%20FALL%20Kobo.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><p></p><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><strong>Slip and Fall: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #2 <a href="https://amzn.to/44URdEa" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6466745367" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/harry-s-pottery-mystery">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144084655?ean=2940186166337" target="_blank">Nook</a>
A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery #1 </strong></em><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">iBooks</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi98VIQj8Y" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln on Jeopardy!!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Exclusively available for Kindle and KU.<br /><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tytfS4" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a></i></b><br />Book 1, 2 , 3 are out now. <br />Book 5 is available for preorder!</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s970/A+HometownHearts.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_PZ134ra90Or4jKpAvOXSND6LVC_JT4XdeCn-zuVbePVw56tpRjOICGcnfwCjl97JlArcesNK8hC6LFw-z0S3UB3zPTpTxa7jufyddX2VNmlsICBeSGIf1XSorIxlWVjiA64a0gikc-VtGpwIsJS8-hzQw65g83Ks5wGeCQHYLVuD_HWhPmy/s320/A+HometownHearts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3rIuUUF" target="_blank">Hometown Hearts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></a></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-14507609178138237942023-10-04T06:31:00.000-04:002023-10-04T06:31:12.425-04:00Banned Books Week<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N_6FZ3UAlVQQxLrt1t2DIBAnoPtHx36HZjG1tZ2Fhyjy9Sj8JOtmxRdkM2IS9PKe0QI6SY52cBV1E1PQ02toF6Qq37Wrzlo7WC8bqxJ1KcIwaEUe3HU_w84E91Es-BESpWYalrkv2VCZVxOOO-DCaixFO_JSPm7ttkkP1mNLUQhlF7I2gh91/s1207/bannedbooks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1204" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N_6FZ3UAlVQQxLrt1t2DIBAnoPtHx36HZjG1tZ2Fhyjy9Sj8JOtmxRdkM2IS9PKe0QI6SY52cBV1E1PQ02toF6Qq37Wrzlo7WC8bqxJ1KcIwaEUe3HU_w84E91Es-BESpWYalrkv2VCZVxOOO-DCaixFO_JSPm7ttkkP1mNLUQhlF7I2gh91/w441-h442/bannedbooks.png" width="441" /></a></div><br /> It's banned books week again.<p></p><p>It breaks my heart to see the growing list of books being banned across this country. I grew up in books. Really. I read LOTR's so many time I feel quite accurate saying I grew up in Middle Earth. I solved mysteries with Trixie Belden (<i>she gets a shout out in the Maid in LA series</i>). I traveled the universe with Heinlein's Lazarus Long. This wasn't one of his juvenile fiction books. And there's a very good chance some of the themes were too adult for me when I first read them, but I loved Lazarus. </p><p>Books saved me in so many ways. They raised me. They made me think and question the world around me...and question my place in it. I walked in other shoes. I saw the world through other POV's. It's infuriating seeing books I loved on that list. </p><p>What I'd really like is to never have to have another week that warns about the dangers of banning books. But the amount of books being banned has picked up over the last year, so I don't think that's coming any time soon. Until then, I'll keep talking about books...especially the banned ones.</p><p>If you don't like a book...don't read it. If you don't think it's appropriate for your kids, don't let them read it. But don't take away my right to read it, or try to limit what my kids can read. I tell the Minions...if they ban it, read it. Figure out what that book is saying that people don't want you to know. For instance, I read about <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/news/2023/06/22/georgia-teacher-fired-reading-childrens-book-about-acceptance-class" target="_blank">a teacher being fired for reading her class</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/3PIZFAx" target="_blank">My Shadow is Purple</a>. I bought it, loved the story, read it to the Minions then had a talk about inclusion and acceptance. They got the message of the story and couldn't understand why any adult wouldn't want them to read it.</p><p>I don't get it either.</p><p>Want to find out more? Check out <a href="http://BannedBooks.org">BannedBooksWeek.org</a>. <a href="https://pen.org/report/banned-in-the-usa-state-laws-supercharge-book-suppression-in-schools/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=awareness&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9-6oBhBaEiwAHv1QvC7pABOYFs7qBRJ5CCxnn1aujZAoFXtoZMK-oOvpkxnEb_puIv0NWxoC2A8QAvD_BwE">Banned Books in the US.</a> Heck, just Google banned books. Look up "libraries and banned books." Buy banned books. Read banned books. Really. If someone tells you not to read it...read it.<br /><br />Holly</p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-1947181776872806722023-08-13T10:50:00.002-04:002023-08-13T10:50:20.681-04:00Holly Jacobs' August Newsletter<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-2638012381873429006templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-2638012381873429006templateHeader" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-2638012381873429006mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-2638012381873429006mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Who's the Boss? is finally out!!</strong></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td id="m_-2638012381873429006templateBody" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-2638012381873429006mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-2638012381873429006mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjsDCYVM995YPdEmckvXtam7OwRy1Wobrdblq3oHhY9UxGLNUiK9nrJCnPNjVdFeIxMDVBagpsOpdx8fl9hBtjWG2zXtMZA-9YfAR10wDWZOS-NlE-jBD4NXz2rvS65GL45_kbPdo-mogNmKBYhVdSEDPcWvRd90DLJqW-JPmnTtrPAU5_3uGQjWtM9XF_8-wIQ4wXSTRJ-1VgVnTyijGM=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; outline: none; width: 320px;" tabindex="0" width="320" /><br /><br />I hope you all are having a wonderful summer. We've been busy at camp. There are so many projects that still need done after last year's addition. But despite that, we still find time to have fun. This weekend's bonfire was amazing!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhefKS1llP0grs1_jWwdFbvZk1eZWDyGFtW-r95BFvwbtTm1XAiV4Q8dxi0QrtJ-Orvpaun_8rmaGEk4h2FvW-PMFNyDkzGgDOwaxTb5k7YU1CbxgAbuQBeASlIOFCRCQUtrvl3vTJ3vMgtgykGchVtV6WZfbfkO_HTmoHIjRll_ZCKRxwEtVq42HOihEtP-ms7VtZVLidnpvhWKMxzUik=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; width: 150px;" tabindex="0" width="150" /><br /><br />In other news, we have a new addition...Mabel Francis. Tallulah wasn't sure at first, but they're growing closer every day. And a puppy does add to the summer chaos! Our dogs do tend to make it into my books...keep an eye out for Mabel sometime in the future. (Yes, it might be hard to see Mabel...black dogs are not super photogenic. LOL)<br /><img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiK4B68RlWqtFWM_YnhU5-PETtxKYl6lTcYSJjcxO-7daKiIjnLgvFVxIhSjl5-Pm2pj_4z0VVWFNblEC9Ijjtxs3kERgugseaD_sI8aVWUrXa1SQVOKf43nNKpbTXCI3MI_fWFNOQ9ZD30-5no2M2364iiif4D92tZeYklt0kZpU_yRTSR4aXnodGAb7rctebZKe5_J8PSzlscK1qPrQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 600px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" /><br /><br /><br /><br />But the big news is, <em><strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D514d3b007e%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1692024440157000&usg=AOvVaw2FQWBxMi3_qpEJLSUgejn2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=514d3b007e&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Who's the Boss</a>,</strong></em> book #4 in the Around the Square series, is finally out for your Kindle!!<br /><br /><em>Mia loves everything about her job...everything except Larry Mackenzie. But sometimes fate makes unlikely allies. When Mac inherits a baby, Mia helps out with Katie O'Keefe until Mac can find the baby a forever home. But the more time they spend together, the more Mia discovers that maybe she was wrong. Something about Mac is pulling at her. But if he can't open his heart to Katie, how will he ever let Mia in? Mac needs to discover that family isn’t something you are born into, sometimes it’s something just waiting for you to discover. If you listen, your heart can show you the way to your true family...and everlasting love.<br /><br />In Who's the Boss?, Mac and Mia find that sometimes the path you think you're on isn't where you're supposed to be headed at all.</em><br /><br />If you've missed any of the Amazon exclusive series, you can find them all here... <br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Da04dd6b309%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1692024440158000&usg=AOvVaw3PWde1haFEA-bPQ-u3zBdL" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=a04dd6b309&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Around the Square.</a><br /><br /><br /><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgRII54oAqsVdTV_XpjIpOEnujPIVA1eqEIuPnyogxZ9CEHKWKvcP0LT2WCr8jbBv5YSDGm9j79pxvrtjFTnF2gHYwJyvtGDY6eWOSK1_MTABCLtBpQVge7BYTNX7Wq5l1V5guaBJt-uOx6Eg0sc7CoX1cXLqnxqfaVKkWvnsg7dZvHjdT5sSKO0ywVu14-Qqn_SzR4-MKscRBfumnreXtM3dIaJg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" /><br /><br /><br />I waited to send out my <em>Who's the Boss</em> email because I wanted to let you know that <em>Suddenly a Father</em> is on sale for $.99 for the rest of August.<br /><br /> Suddenly a Father<br /> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D6aa115b0b6%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1692024440158000&usg=AOvVaw2iVTzBkLdKERpe-FRcWTXs" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=6aa115b0b6&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dc5186ee5d6%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1692024440158000&usg=AOvVaw3GnEzL-LJVjbRKWB1P96UV" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=c5186ee5d6&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Da353b7b08a%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1692024440158000&usg=AOvVaw0Cfx68rz5ZRy8Gd6uBFgi2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=a353b7b08a&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D0e971e84c5%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1692024440158000&usg=AOvVaw2_cHHugSFLxc2rSt4d_OxC" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=0e971e84c5&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank"><u>iBooks</u></a><br /><br />That's it for now! The second Harry's Pottery, <em>Slip and Fall</em> is out this autumn. If you missed <em>A View to a Kiln</em>, (a Jeopardy answer!!) check it out!<br /><br />As always, thanks for all your support! Enjoy the last days of summer...and if you have kids at home, REALLY enjoy when they go back to school!<br /><br />Holly</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-24450244575537547882023-05-02T12:37:00.000-04:002023-05-02T12:37:07.550-04:00Getting Outside Leads to Looking Inside<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVwSa8gTD5kVM1d3XtQNMpcTaQqDh2ai_nXvv59LjPtWsKOYq_W-LXyr2GoXXMKP7NndclDShi7rf8nsSPAJTYDYRxyPywABnGvHia4-Spys1uxQtnL1MXZoYqNtRABFjXEZjWSiwAaU4HRkhJY5BzwcahG8wC-8eKA4d7CKwrqhLBj-8gg/s3915/IMG_1767.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2323" data-original-width="3915" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVwSa8gTD5kVM1d3XtQNMpcTaQqDh2ai_nXvv59LjPtWsKOYq_W-LXyr2GoXXMKP7NndclDShi7rf8nsSPAJTYDYRxyPywABnGvHia4-Spys1uxQtnL1MXZoYqNtRABFjXEZjWSiwAaU4HRkhJY5BzwcahG8wC-8eKA4d7CKwrqhLBj-8gg/w640-h380/IMG_1767.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> When I had those two surgeries on my leg a few years back, my biggest question was, "When can I get out walking again?" The doctor quickly came to realize how much I enjoy walking (<i>the day of the second surgery I scolded him because he was early and I hadn't finished my 10,000 steps yet LOL). </i>When I finally got the go ahead to ditch the crutches and start walking, he put things in my terms. "Five hundred steps a day, Holly. You can added five hundred more steps every day." I was free!<p></p><p>Since then, I've tried to put those steps to good use. One of my daughters and I are trying to visit all 123 State Parks. Some are literally just a visit. There's no real hiking involved. Pennsylvania has a lot of little parks...it's a great way to preserve land and forests. But some are huge tracts of land with amazing trails and sights to behold. <br /><br />We went to the northern, middle park of the state this weekend and, despite the rainy weather, we went on some lovely hikes! One was down to the bottom of the PA Grand Canyon. It was challenging, but so worth it!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02bsEwbbIN01hIa84QQ2SkLUDtisO8HMXZ_WjqHixXAgXILfc1bmRobyxmRUdKJZ9XH087J3vPvXUFFfxmKvBetde83xFnu02e0xkzmnoRPbhpzJM1jAEFj3rgg8zYWwinTzSLGiGbB-EX2b29jHiDTdckNBgFAjOQy5sQJCoeZOx21jpxw/s1214/When%20I%20Go%20For%20A%20Walk.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1214" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02bsEwbbIN01hIa84QQ2SkLUDtisO8HMXZ_WjqHixXAgXILfc1bmRobyxmRUdKJZ9XH087J3vPvXUFFfxmKvBetde83xFnu02e0xkzmnoRPbhpzJM1jAEFj3rgg8zYWwinTzSLGiGbB-EX2b29jHiDTdckNBgFAjOQy5sQJCoeZOx21jpxw/w400-h399/When%20I%20Go%20For%20A%20Walk.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />I walked with the group a lot of the weekend, but Sunday morning I got up early, went out in the rain, and hiked up a mountain on my own. I took in the lovely views and found I was thankful the leaves hadn't fully popped because they wouldn't have hidden the broad vista. And as I thought of hidden things, I thought about the book I'm working on. I wanted to capture this quiet moment in the woods in it. I wanted to find a way to write the magic of a misty, spring morning. I weighed and measured words that might paint an accurate picture. I breathed deeply, listened to the springtime bird calls and let my thoughts chase after one another. They moved from one thing to another with no interruptions and no attempts on my part to reign them in.<br /><br /> I'll confess, I love walking with friends and family. We get to catch up and enjoy the world together. But on Sunday morning and here at home, my mornings are for me. I think about my family. I think about the world. I think about books I'm working on. I mull as I take in the sights. Walking has let me learn where I fit into the world. I read the seasons as if they're a book. And while it might seem to be a quiet, solitary walk, it is anything but. Stories ping pong, in amongst the thoughts and memories.<br /><br />Yes, walking outside leads me to a lot of inner action. Some of those thoughts might enrich a book, some (<i>I hope</i>) will enrich me.<br /><br />Wishing you some lovely walks this spring!<br /><br />Holly<br /><br /><b>PS <a href="https://amzn.to/41UdEZt" target="_blank">Sweet Success</a> is Available today for Kindle and KU!</b><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZH4C2" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Secret Babies: Second Chances Anthology is.</a><span style="color: black; text-align: left;"> $.99 <br /></span>Something Perfect is one of the stories!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s1194/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1194" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9E028EiW3Tr4t6SuLGlZztZFsotoMOm21wqTiA_D692LS4AmigyWaaUyVIiP32Ilh0DJwAEhD7mUMx7qrkvizzc-lOlO-2n_87iIBPESpbpf_teo3_V64_nQuRFabWSluGuVkDhTp_9x15lFeJCwHquHytC3bBwcco07lduTGGRIDYYMoQ/s320/AroundTheSquareFirstFour.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Around the Square<br />Book 1, 2 & 3 are out now. <br />Book 4 is available for preorder</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">K</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Ddde7d286f3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0HmlHWmrtH9TOLDbS4sL4C" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=dde7d286f3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">obo</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D3a2b099ff3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw1xvctEPHGIMPAty54LG0dB" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=3a2b099ff3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-68687921425220096682023-05-02T12:30:00.003-04:002023-05-02T12:30:50.963-04:00May Newsletter<center style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="m_-6832774684699875810bodyTable" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; height: 100%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" id="m_-6832774684699875810bodyCell" style="border-top: 0px; height: 1372.39px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px; width: 722px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-6832774684699875810templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6832774684699875810templateHeader" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><h1 style="font-size: 26px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Spring into Another Around the Square Story!</h1></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td id="m_-6832774684699875810templateBody" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgG6-F6EEjbsa7JNUR4JelvPrtSh4twKFDR7s9yLHWHY222SfcHBARkOch4JMA3RwPuA4Pslnu56QgxJg4Y-gyapxP_e7KEYTmVUpv_JkaFyeb-3BCF4IeW_eHTW_IIk_UPRMPh40C8qOC4VQuA6hHho5VlUlLZJOw6Zh-ZMrYwcufRcEdPxW815KQ0Kh3ZOygAckAehKFSADkbxM8GhC9Kjlu7ofQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 200px;" tabindex="0" width="200" />I just got back from a northern, mid-state weekend. We did a lot of hiking and touring in the rain. But as my grandmother used to tell me, I'm not sugar, so I didn't melt. If you haven't been following me on Social Media, my daughter and I are trying to visit all of PA's 123 State Parks. So we rented a house last weekend and, despite the rain, we had a blast visiting nearby parks. We were sad we didn't get to enjoy star-gazing at Cherry Springs State Park. But we're planning to go again someday soon!<br /><br /><img class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhLRWpkXpqHgthyphenhyphen-hNgEsqLPZRA2DItNInmhaRGLxNAV-EI7ptAOLTPKKYNVWJRupgksqvEwV3gdcBOrekV5qInwfNBvAOjUshdeXSUPxEib5SOPWNaa1O4IPt1tainNp4-iTi6UFH96KV4CHfMmuBhxfDDgO-SjYQRZ1TP8HkQToVeRXqNmhncTxwdyGveUe4B9SMPDkQKyKgKqTgh0vruleXgYnA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 200px;" tabindex="0" width="200" /><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjjwlJEtvprKKZpBBXR9J2Epp-6xQt91B6VcLA4UJ-agh2FtCNofrcEZM4tI5IAv70w9edPU-dz0kWUujW62Vg7J3arbfcT1vJfXtsNoFSsjcK4eBGvkPlmnAKIWDvDfdr42rXY6Dz4tWE34_PC7Cg9KaYkJyUf_vvZMLPJCIwCSWix9B6mvoBBecmf9CLd5j9OUGKTSoX6pAba0C1p53OfuJuMV0k=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 118px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: none; width: 200px;" tabindex="0" width="200" />It really was a great time. I'm keeping track of the parks with this cool PA State Park board!<br /><br />If you're interested in visiting PA, check out <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dcd8bd29c67%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1683131328016000&usg=AOvVaw1QxsUXzzLfTFRLAOcUzh5P" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=cd8bd29c67&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">PA State Parks and Forests</a>, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D0cde03a68b%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1683131328016000&usg=AOvVaw0hiFlTKEUtXzUHUcPbk8vw" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=0cde03a68b&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">DCNR</a>, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D8dc7716f90%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1683131328016000&usg=AOvVaw2mCUog93ACdvdBXQArTLgA" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=8dc7716f90&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Hemlock to Hellbender Podcast</a>, and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Daf2bba2014%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1683131328017000&usg=AOvVaw0CnvRfQZ2gM45Q_jiWBwcc" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=af2bba2014&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Uncovering PA.</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed !important; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top: 2px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td id="m_-6832774684699875810templateFooter" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Now you <img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiu3-4AqUntW3M9zcvOOe5oIvnmbggXCLy161kRE56EEeUgty_MR6w3QwDO96Rxcx1CD6_q4-c7Maelqsc8TdWgKVumekru0IPthrCSx2yjHGIKqgefmIUmbdzwxqCzv0k2K9gR18azJ2dxCjoP0IdOHr8hdBHk429WsAvP70OCMjbY5sE7sLbd1Vnxz6_s3PNg6yVn2DFkYYeWj6vu-w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 274px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" />might think that talking about Pennsylvania doesn't really have anything to do with Sweet Success, but since most of the books I write are set in the state, even more specifically in my favorite city, Erie, it does!<br /><br />Sweet Success is another Around the Square story. It's got chocolate, a lost love and...maybe a real happily-ever-after!<br /><br />The <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D86eaeacd72%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1683131328017000&usg=AOvVaw1WtJCq36YqrYoXeGbb9FQU" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=86eaeacd72&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #202020;" target="_blank">Around the Square series</a> is available for Kindle and KU. Check out <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D840f9ca7fc%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1683131328017000&usg=AOvVaw097PC5-VE1o5J3Qhuj6Vgi" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=840f9ca7fc&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #202020;" target="_blank">Sweet Success</a>!<br /><br />Thanks as always for all the support!<br />I hope you're having a lovely spring filled with long walks outside, good books and sooo much glee!<br /><br />Holly</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-6832774684699875810mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed !important; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top: 2px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); 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color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; height: auto; outline: none;" width="1" /></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-62672180336395657482023-04-20T15:27:00.001-04:002023-04-20T15:27:09.226-04:00Secrets<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCauE5mS1vFiWbrNa4MrU4yzlcuklwQsffooUG2CgeF_CQ9-tprd4IUkVZeE4n6HsrIhmYfue84BEgJBuFYVi-OndjAMuyyf1jjWXdhh7de5M3QB94URhbRLVq5lSpLXl_KnlNgF6nZRuOP7l6DTf9f8ZvaPk-L_iJToGiQfqsNbf8tOsU6A/s2094/Sarah%20Keil,%20October%2024,%201931%20%20The%20Evening%20News,%20Harrisburg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2094" data-original-width="1989" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCauE5mS1vFiWbrNa4MrU4yzlcuklwQsffooUG2CgeF_CQ9-tprd4IUkVZeE4n6HsrIhmYfue84BEgJBuFYVi-OndjAMuyyf1jjWXdhh7de5M3QB94URhbRLVq5lSpLXl_KnlNgF6nZRuOP7l6DTf9f8ZvaPk-L_iJToGiQfqsNbf8tOsU6A/s320/Sarah%20Keil,%20October%2024,%201931%20%20The%20Evening%20News,%20Harrisburg.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>All families have secrets. Stories someone holds onto because they're just too painful to share. </p><p>My grandmother had such a secret. When she passed, I found a letter from an attorney that enclosed her original birth certificate. Her bio mother's name was listed as Sarah K.. My grandmother's bio father's last name was listed as Miller. I knew she'd adored, Mills, the father who raised her. When he passed, her mother, Myrtle had lived with her. My mom adored her grandmother. I still have Myrtle's rocker in the living room. I knew it as my grandmother's rocker, but in reality it was her mom's. But the parents she loved and took cared for weren't her biological parents is what the birth certificate indicated. I can't imagine how finding that had rocked her world.</p><p>I talked to a friend of the family who said the rumor was my grandmother's adoptive father was also her biological father. I suspect my grandmother heard that and that's why she went looking. The last name listed on the birth certificate could be a wordplay on his name. Miller-Mills.</p><p> I found two Sarahs with the right last name, one in central PA and one in Ohio who were about the right age and both had been to Pittsburgh, where the birth certificate was issued. My grandfather was a railroad engineer and his route took him into Pittsburgh.</p><p>I had clues and little tidbits. I dug off and on for years. <br /></p><p>All that digging led me to DNA verification that the central PA Sarah was my bio great-grandmother. Census data and a few news clippings helped me piece together Sarah's story. I know she left central PA and went to Pittsburgh. Maybe she was there to go to nursing school or maybe she was already a nurse and working there (<i>I'm still looking into that</i>). I know that she ended up being a visiting nurse back in central PA. I even found a picture of her (<i>She's the one in the front on the right</i>). Sarah was twenty-one when my grandmother was born. Mills, the father who raised my grandmother was indeed my bio grandfather and he was in his forties when she was born. <br /><br />I've found records that Mills and his wife Myrtle lost a one day old son eighteen years before Mills brought my grandmother home to Myrtle. What kind of strength does it take to raise the child born of your husband's affair? I can't imagine. I do know Myrtle loved her and loved my mom. The fact that I'm looking into DNA relatives doesn't negate that love...Myrtle will always be my family. </p><p> When my grandmother got that birth certificate from the attorney, Sarah was still alive. She'd worked as a nurse and had retired from her visiting nurse job. She had lived in central PA with another single sister until that sister died. A second sister lived in Ohio with her family. Sarah's brother moved to New York. Once her roomie sister was gone, she was alone. To the best of my knowledge, my grandmother never met her or contacted her. I might not have known Sarah, but I was alive when my grandmother got that birth certificate and I wish we'd met. </p><p>Maybe it's the fact I'm a writer. Maybe it's the fact I'm a dreamer. Maybe there's some mitochondrial connection, but so many of these names in my family tree have become so real to me. I'd like to think that Sarah would be happy to know that she's now part of the family. That we were always out there and she was never truly alone. </p><p>I love finding new threads in my family tree and unraveling them. I've found other secret babies. One was adopted by someone else in her family. One looks as if he was adopted and raised by a stepfather, but kept his bio dad's last name.</p><p>I found a relative who got drunk and froze to death. I've found one who helped found Brown University. I had a relative who was was an aide to George Washington. I've found sharecroppers. Lords and Ladies, Scottish clans. I have one relative who make a Paul Revere-esque ride through the Virginia mountains tell his neighbors that the British were coming (<i>the Minions and I always give him a shout out and keep playing at writing him his own Paul Revere sort of poem</i>). It's so easy to get carried away by the stories. </p><p>It is frequently harder to track down the females in my tree. I'd really love to know more about them other than they were someone's wife and mother. So often they went by their husband's name on census forms. Mrs. So and So. Or her first name and his last name, making it hard to track down her birth records. I think that's one of the reasons I love that my mitochondrial DNA came from my mom. She got hers from her mom. My grandmother got hers from...Sarah. And so on and so on through the branches of my tree. Even the women I haven't established as anyone more than Mrs. So and So, are there in my mtDNA. I was my mother's only girl, and I love knowing that line of mtDNA will live on through my daughters and their daughter and...</p><p>Right now I'm reading a book on Maryland and my family's help in founding it. The book hoarder in me loves looking for these old tomes that tell my family's stories.</p><p>Speaking of stories, Something Borrowed is still for sale for a few more weeks. Something Perfect is part of the Second Chance Anthology. And the third book in Around the Square, Sweet Success, is out soon and available for preoder!</p><p>That's it for now!</p><p>Holly</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwQvTudhl5B-KWGl_ZFV29S51cR8MgTsob-5QV7SWa1qFuGCm0A43DcrfEOVLmaNMpwVwqH6tj2RlIemeqddmaM69vId1g3JjEnzju_443gbH3_g9foJdOki8M1eHNSqqKWcyu4O-5Sgo_D8XLAi5y9MSahTu_lqm5YQadTL6kBUY9hfsQQ/s300/SOMETHING%20BORROWED%20WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwQvTudhl5B-KWGl_ZFV29S51cR8MgTsob-5QV7SWa1qFuGCm0A43DcrfEOVLmaNMpwVwqH6tj2RlIemeqddmaM69vId1g3JjEnzju_443gbH3_g9foJdOki8M1eHNSqqKWcyu4O-5Sgo_D8XLAi5y9MSahTu_lqm5YQadTL6kBUY9hfsQQ/w133-h200/SOMETHING%20BORROWED%20WEB.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: inherit;"> Something Borrowed is for sale for $.99!!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: inherit;"> <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/something-borrowed/id1528217729" target="_blank">iBooks</a>: <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: inherit;"> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-borrowed-holly-jacobs/1143257671?ean=2940163018031" target="_blank">Nook</a>: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: inherit;"><br /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-borrowed-30" target="_blank">Kobo: </a><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/2SUOE2j" target="_blank">Kindle</a>; </span></span></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/s400/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZH4C2" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Secret Babies: Second Chances Anthology is.</a><span style="color: black; text-align: left;"> $.99 <br /></span>Something Perfect is one of the stories!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwagKX9YsYZRAy-uKKn-i2RYzZsUaQZ5kQqHMsWrULDEONquZeLSOoEWRRkXZgi-B29mLNveV0U3x4w7nVn4ysf-BJwSjSQtXbEpHHgQl4M31Qq_1Nwgs5I_vSQ2-g3OxnFdf17JEoTTZpdgu80Ws25mwIrowRCu58cCIWxdmleDOjgFQTg/s1447/AroundTheSquareAd.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwagKX9YsYZRAy-uKKn-i2RYzZsUaQZ5kQqHMsWrULDEONquZeLSOoEWRRkXZgi-B29mLNveV0U3x4w7nVn4ysf-BJwSjSQtXbEpHHgQl4M31Qq_1Nwgs5I_vSQ2-g3OxnFdf17JEoTTZpdgu80Ws25mwIrowRCu58cCIWxdmleDOjgFQTg/s320/AroundTheSquareAd.png" width="317" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a><br />Book 1 & 2 are out now. <br />Book 3 & 4 are available for preorder</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; 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<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-48820302657407600482023-03-13T06:05:00.000-04:002023-03-13T06:05:05.142-04:00The State of my PA State Park Hiking<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DEiqBnLrsIVtyL8JmuHWA37wGvfYUS1VKJtEg4UjZfBa15lkJTnZIwB8ecSuM9gL8ZLS1wyBnKwshayhodaG1NrgZETGe5na_YUCee9WtBoqvpAi2Zjgd3nRt-29LMUZJ669rDqIvKBwDlW9ptCSUpr8-ze6orggCN2jAoRTYMSgqllfOA/s2048/Puzzle%20and%20book.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DEiqBnLrsIVtyL8JmuHWA37wGvfYUS1VKJtEg4UjZfBa15lkJTnZIwB8ecSuM9gL8ZLS1wyBnKwshayhodaG1NrgZETGe5na_YUCee9WtBoqvpAi2Zjgd3nRt-29LMUZJ669rDqIvKBwDlW9ptCSUpr8-ze6orggCN2jAoRTYMSgqllfOA/w393-h233/Puzzle%20and%20book.jpeg" width="393" /></a></p><br />Last year, I decided to set a new goal...you know I love a good goal. And this is a very good goal. I'm going to hike all of PA's State Parks. There were 121 when I started, but last year PA added three more parks to the list. So I'm hiking! <br /><br />To make the hiking more fun, I'm documenting it in two ways. First is a Pennsylvania Parks Sign. (<i>I ordered from the Michigan Map site on Etsy. The maker, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/999883016/mi-state-parks-tracker-sign-michigan-st?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=michigan+state+park+sign&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1" target="_blank">Whake Studios</a>, didn't have PA listed, but very nicely made me one</i>.) And with a <a href="https://ppff.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ppff/product.jsp?product=1&catalogId=9&" target="_blank">PA State Park Passbook</a>. <a href="https://paparksandforests.org/" target="_blank">PA State Parks and Forests</a> organization has the passbook in their online store. And for anyone else hiking in PA, check out the new podcast, <a href="https://www.hemlockstohellbenders.com/" target="_blank">Hemlocks to Hellbenders.</a> It has great info on PA State Parks. Oh, and because I'm directionally challenged...seriously, directionally challenged, one of the few apps I pay for is <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/plus?utm_medium=sem&utm_source=google&utm_sub=text&utm_campaign=fto_us_phrase&utm_term=trail%20app&utm_device=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjbagBhD3ARIsANRrqEvJYQDMhIWcoJlbDlp5qhCy2b4PCAa4aoEadM8Q4_D5xw79z3NP1UwaAplKEALw_wcB" target="_blank">AllTrails</a>. Not only does it give me great hike suggestions, but I can download maps for when there's no cell service. (<i>No kickbacks from any of these sites.</i>)<p></p><p>So what have I documented? 17 parks this year! Ten this month while I was in Philly. We're taking a trip to midstate this spring and I'll get a few more then. I'm excited about the upcoming hikes.<br /></p><p>Here's the thing, I've always been a walker. I have family members who had health issues and didn't walk much and lost ground quickly as they aged. I don't want that, so I walk. Himself got me a FitBit years ago (<i>I'm on my third</i>) and that 10,000 steps a day challenge has been so much fun. (<i>You know you have it bad when they come a couple hours early for a surgery and you gripe that you didn't get to finish off your steps for the day. LOL</i>) But it's so much more than the health or the goal. It's being outside every day. Like the mail, rain, sleet and snow doesn't stop me. These last years, I've felt more connected to the world at large. I feel the seasons in an intimate way. These last few weeks, I've noticed that the quiet of winter has given way to a burst of activity. Birds chatter and wooing. The skunks are out...after Tallulah's brush with a skunk last year, we're super cautious. I've seen my fox, racoons, deer and a few weeks ago, Himself and I spotted bald eagles. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8RoODxdXsJj1QNJ8ntCXtDyIY1j98KR3Ic5mmQClPPxNB_jcwPCpUKC7wQm82d1ey3zTfJrdl2V9SmyNZe89qnJcUZ91iMdiFpL2IYQ2wuKmmVqGxUdwA4SmaBPJ3O_gfsoPv--vej5xXvncu4svh9V3sEPfNaY1cH2yoV8kAIr7sXlEfg/s4032/IMG_1293.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8RoODxdXsJj1QNJ8ntCXtDyIY1j98KR3Ic5mmQClPPxNB_jcwPCpUKC7wQm82d1ey3zTfJrdl2V9SmyNZe89qnJcUZ91iMdiFpL2IYQ2wuKmmVqGxUdwA4SmaBPJ3O_gfsoPv--vej5xXvncu4svh9V3sEPfNaY1cH2yoV8kAIr7sXlEfg/s320/IMG_1293.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br />Yesterday, Tallulah and I walked as the sun came up. Well, it didn't come up very far, but there was a line of sunrise over the horizon and under the clouds. It was lovely. That...that is why I love walking. I know I was talking about hiking and now I'm talking about walking. To be honest, I think of hiking as just a very picturesque walk. LOL <p></p><p>I enjoy going out on my own, but I also enjoy taking family along with me. I love finding Gifts of the Unexpected. A deer crossing my path. Finding a hawk's nest. Red salamanders. Ducks walking on fish (<i>yeah that's a thing at Pymatuning</i>). <br /><br />In <i>Just One Thing </i>I wrote, “<i>Sometimes, you find yourself inadvertently in the dark. But I’d discovered that if you stopped fighting against it and just stood still, sometimes something marvelous comes along.</i>” That's just it. I'm hiking the State Parks to see what kind of <i>Gifts of the Unexpected</i> the trail offers. And if the only I thing I find is just another facet of myself...that's enough.</p><p>I was talking to someone about walking and she said she didn't know where to start. I had an answer...one step at a time. After that surgery I mentioned, I was on crutches for quite a while. When I was finally cleared to start walking, the doctor (<i>who I nicely snarked at because I didn't get my 10,000 steps in</i>) said I could do a little more each day. Then because by then he knew me, he added, "500 steps more each day." LOL So if you're thinking about walking/hiking, take it one step at a time. Down a hall. Down the street. Around the block. In a Pennsylvania State Park.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhXFd3W5N-br9R4fRA4B2VezL_Pa3AKH1SnNsU3qVqQlXN1UTf-0ABGi4LCPkVA-FKv6ghSHk-3AqjHZLlCxEbYJLTqsDmYu23BtPiIFAmTW3FPd0N6-eLH4CuN-sobm4sOs2bArPqb7YVJyhI5rqbTl1aE-VCo4jAE5DgXfRBL63FNgkfQ/s2085/HollyStateParksWebsite.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="2085" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhXFd3W5N-br9R4fRA4B2VezL_Pa3AKH1SnNsU3qVqQlXN1UTf-0ABGi4LCPkVA-FKv6ghSHk-3AqjHZLlCxEbYJLTqsDmYu23BtPiIFAmTW3FPd0N6-eLH4CuN-sobm4sOs2bArPqb7YVJyhI5rqbTl1aE-VCo4jAE5DgXfRBL63FNgkfQ/s320/HollyStateParksWebsite.png" width="320" /></a></div>It's been a great first year. At his rate, I'll hopefully finish all the State Parks by 2030ish. That seems reasonable...and fun.<br /><br />I've spent my writing career writing about Pennsylvania. This is a new way to see my favorite state! <br /><br />I'll keep you all posted...like you thought you could escape me. LOL<br /><br />Holly<p></p><p>PS.Susan Gable and I haven't been doing our Trippin' With Holly and Susan since the pandemic, but we did a tour of Presque Isle you can check out, <a href="https://youtu.be/gykSzV0E8zc" target="_blank">Episode 1</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/Ldf_YCoe6QY" target="_blank">Episode 2</a>.<br /><br />PPS. Check out my books:<br /><br />Free This Month: <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8ZaZghPnOHcaMxLKJB-5j-c_ZZme9tP1h6ig9Q5qIcwn4I8aTDLiZoVMv-Oj4FaRfDWAnPcvvH31XLuGhLrV2d7SgxM9D7NqT0tRVyTqY92HWxWYwgWZU47sRrAyT3lBgB7B_8XBRdT0enKTOhlNMNxgWqdc6UgPaCEqNUL522WKAfLD0Q/s300/BRIAR%20HILL%20ROAD%20Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8ZaZghPnOHcaMxLKJB-5j-c_ZZme9tP1h6ig9Q5qIcwn4I8aTDLiZoVMv-Oj4FaRfDWAnPcvvH31XLuGhLrV2d7SgxM9D7NqT0tRVyTqY92HWxWYwgWZU47sRrAyT3lBgB7B_8XBRdT0enKTOhlNMNxgWqdc6UgPaCEqNUL522WKAfLD0Q/w133-h200/BRIAR%20HILL%20ROAD%20Web.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://amzn.to/3LiGkWl" target="_blank">Briar Hill Road</a> is FREE this month!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/s400/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/w200-h200/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" width="200" /></a></div><p><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZH4C2" target="_blank">Surprises in All Sizes anthology.</a> $.99<br />One of my Hometown Hearts stories is included!</p><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwagKX9YsYZRAy-uKKn-i2RYzZsUaQZ5kQqHMsWrULDEONquZeLSOoEWRRkXZgi-B29mLNveV0U3x4w7nVn4ysf-BJwSjSQtXbEpHHgQl4M31Qq_1Nwgs5I_vSQ2-g3OxnFdf17JEoTTZpdgu80Ws25mwIrowRCu58cCIWxdmleDOjgFQTg/s1447/AroundTheSquareAd.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwagKX9YsYZRAy-uKKn-i2RYzZsUaQZ5kQqHMsWrULDEONquZeLSOoEWRRkXZgi-B29mLNveV0U3x4w7nVn4ysf-BJwSjSQtXbEpHHgQl4M31Qq_1Nwgs5I_vSQ2-g3OxnFdf17JEoTTZpdgu80Ws25mwIrowRCu58cCIWxdmleDOjgFQTg/s320/AroundTheSquareAd.png" width="317" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/425sLj7" target="_blank"> Around the Square</a><br />Book 1 & 2 are out now. <br />Book 3 & 4 are available for preorder</div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-88037526374490433872023-02-15T05:29:00.001-05:002023-02-15T05:29:13.719-05:00Books Banning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhulL1JQR7EpNBNCxkZh0vJ2McpdbcGWPhV05bKlVu-gDysaulnMjMp0uirxOo7AXhRW-XNxyTsBBSQPDrZWKQFDgQvaAqDfyqMoRYzGiq4WlaRrckfbDGTl9dEWhlnkdpaZ9th-_CGRGVDlM0Db5zqLpPrC-8GwWemfJ2XlkkXPPUT8-lJQ/s851/BooksRead2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhulL1JQR7EpNBNCxkZh0vJ2McpdbcGWPhV05bKlVu-gDysaulnMjMp0uirxOo7AXhRW-XNxyTsBBSQPDrZWKQFDgQvaAqDfyqMoRYzGiq4WlaRrckfbDGTl9dEWhlnkdpaZ9th-_CGRGVDlM0Db5zqLpPrC-8GwWemfJ2XlkkXPPUT8-lJQ/w610-h226/BooksRead2.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><br />I love Pennsylvania. Almost every book I've written has been set here in my home state. Most in Erie, but I've written books set in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, too. I really love my state, but Pennsylvania's kids deserve better than being in the top ten of book banning states. <br /><br />In 2022 a couple PA kids testified in front of the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee. Christina Ellis a senior at Central York (PA) High School <i>“Sadly enough, I spent the majority of my K-12 schooling, straightening my hair, so I wouldn’t stand out. I wanted to blend in and not be different. Books that highlight our differences and teach others how to address diversity are crucial. These books shouldn’t be up for debate.”</i> <p></p><p> That's just it. But more than that, books highlight our differences and point out our similarities. <br /><br />I wrote a scene in <a href="https://amzn.to/3XqnWNO" target="_blank">Crib Notes</a> about a secondary character, Cessy Keller's essay:<br /></p><p><<<i>My family, by Cecily Keller.<br /><br />When I was in fourth grade, our class made cards for our families for Thanksgiving. We traced our hands and turned them into construction paper turkeys. After school, I ran out and gave mine to my mom when Leslie, a girl in my class, came up and said, ‘You’re supposed to give it to your mom.’ I was confused and told her this was my mom, and she said it couldn’t be ’cause we didn’t match. Until that moment, I don’t think I ever thought that way about my family.</i></p><p><i>Oh, I knew my brother Zac always called me cocoa because my skin is the color of chocolate, and there was no way to miss that Mom is as pale as a white person can get. But I never saw those differences.</i></p><p><i>After that, I did. I noticed the looks my family got when we went out together. None of us are alike. We have brown hair, black, reddish-brown and blond. Some of us are very tall, a few are vertically challenged.</i></p><p><i>When I was ten, we all went to Disney World and Mom made us wear matching T-shirts that proudly proclaimed The Kellers. We got looks there, too.</i></p><p><i>The fact that we all were so very different made us stand out, and any school kid will tell you that standing out can be a problem. So I hoped no one would notice.</i></p><p><i>The Kellers took me home weeks after I was born. I have biological parents, but I never knew them. Then when I was five, my biological father took me back. I still remember that day. My whole family stood on the porch as the social worker led me away to her car. I didn’t understand what was going on. My mom had told me that I was going to live with my real dad, but I felt that my real father was the man on the porch physically holding my brother Zac, who was struggling to get to me. I was only five and I knew who my family was. The stranger the state decided should have custody was nothing to me. The six months he kept me were bad. I don’t talk about them. But they taught me something.</i></p><p><i>Before, I wanted to hide how different my family was, but then I figured out that biology might determine your skin and hair color, it might determine if you’re tall or short, but it’s your family that makes up your heart. It’s your family that makes you whole, the person you really are.<br /><br />I took my family to school later that year for show-and-tell. Though in fourth grade we’d really outgrown the tradition, Mom stood by me and my entire family showed up and let me introduce them to my class. And I told all those kids that my family didn’t match on the outside, that we never would, but we matched on the inside and that’s all that counts.</i></p><p><i>And that’s what family means to me</i>.>></p><div>That one scene sums up my feelings on diversity. We're all different but it's what's inside that counts. Those differences allows us to see the world from unique perspectives. And those perspectives...they're what books can give us. We can literally walk a mile in someone else's shoes. I've lived hundreds of lives...okay, who am I kidding? I've lived thousands of lives. <br /><br />I grew up a reader. One of my first school book fairs, I found a biography of Helen Keller. I was awed by her courage and fortitude. I read The Hobbit for the first time in third grade. I suspect it was way over my head, but I remember that riddle scene between Bilbo and Gollum. A year or so down the pike, a teacher asked me to read something from the book to the class. That was the scene. <br /><br />I read. And I read. I suspect I read books that someone somewhere would want to ban. Wants to ban now. I did my first research paper on World War II. I read bits of Mein Kampf. I know I quoted it in the report. And I know that report taught me in a most down-to-my-marrow way about the horrors of the concentration camps and the people who ran them. The diseased minds that fomented that kind of hate. Those minds are still out there trying to create divisions. Reading books, living all those other lives is a sort of inoculation against that kind of hate.</div><div><br /></div><div>For years, I was the kindergarten story lady at my kids' school. I read the five-year-olds the books I'd read to my own kids. I sang them the songs I sang with my kids. (<i>You do not have to have a great voice to entertain kids</i>.)<br /><br />Those years with the kindergarten classes meant the world to me. I wrote about them in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KY3RTYD?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1676422333&sr=1-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn" target="_blank">Carry Her Heart</a>:<br /><br /><div><<<i>I’d been the story time lady for the younger grades for years. Generally kindergarten, but sometimes through second grade. I read stories, sang songs, and basically had a wonderful time with them. My singing voice is less than stage quality, but the wonderful thing about young kids is, they don’t care. Rumor has it, I sing a mean rendition of “I Have a Rooster,” and don’t even get me started on my expertise with “Up on the Housetop” at Christmas.</i></div><div><i><br />I would not sing around the older students because I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be as forgiving as the kindergarteners</i>.>></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZJT38-L9n23mZgH9vZztSNKxPxhWIq1xYYTor7dPWdlrDs6jM-SEkxY71ghKVLLUNCT7jAvIDrn6UKO6ou8CHqzXBxYdG8oJQmCG6c5uwxmC1EaFxMNB304jo5UsgLoOX0vIFiDqLI5i2W_traC4yu43_tM69TyRiObZi_tlQcGyLkI0VQ/s1868/BannedBooks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="1868" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZJT38-L9n23mZgH9vZztSNKxPxhWIq1xYYTor7dPWdlrDs6jM-SEkxY71ghKVLLUNCT7jAvIDrn6UKO6ou8CHqzXBxYdG8oJQmCG6c5uwxmC1EaFxMNB304jo5UsgLoOX0vIFiDqLI5i2W_traC4yu43_tM69TyRiObZi_tlQcGyLkI0VQ/s320/BannedBooks.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kids. I realized then that kids need stories. They need to find themselves in books and conversely walk those miles in other people's shoes. They need to see the world from different points of view and conversely they need to see themselves in those fictional characters. <br /><br />That's what book banning tries to take away. It diminishes our kids' lives. Rather than giving them the world, book-banners want to narrow their world. <br /><br />I was blessed to have teachers who encouraged my love of reading. I was just talking to a school friend about Miss Mac. She was tough and but man did she make the world a bigger place for all of us. And the librarians on my book mobile, who found out I loved sci fi/fantasy books and would tuck up books for me. They gave me books I might not have picked up on my own...they gave me the world. Right now, some states and school districts are trying to take away their ability to do that for this generation of kids. There was a picture of empty class room book shelves in Florida. That hurt my heart.</div><div><br /></div><div>Someone posted a meme on my page that said, The good guys are never the ones who ban books. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's the truth of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Read. Read everything. And if someone tells you not to read something, definitely read that!<br /><br />I'm working on a different story right now. One that focuses on the magic of books. That's what they are...magic. They transform us...if we have access to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Holly</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Quotes that impacted me:</b></div><p><i>"Pennsylvania is second on a recently published list of states with the highest number of banned books. Across the state, there are a staggering 456 bans across nine districts. Plus, the school district with the most bans across the nation can be found in the Midstate."</i> ~<a href="https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/study-finds-pa-school-district-leads-nation-with-most-banned-books/?fbclid=IwAR0HNS92MrpLRBeDOMlWJ5S6-8KW9QAn5MZe98YNey95e-5Iaf0yFkxxFLQ" target="_blank">Lauren Rude</a>, ABC 27</p><p><i>"In that nine-month period, PEN America lists 1,586 instances of individual books banned across the nation, affecting 1,145 unique book titles, 874 different authors, 198 illustrators, and nine translators. The bans come from 86 school districts, representing 2,899 schools, in 26 different states."</i> ~<a href="https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/study-finds-pa-school-district-leads-nation-with-most-banned-books/?fbclid=IwAR0HNS92MrpLRBeDOMlWJ5S6-8KW9QAn5MZe98YNey95e-5Iaf0yFkxxFLQ" target="_blank">Lauren Rude</a>, ABC 27</p><p><i>“Most books being targeted for censorship are books that introduce ideas about diversity or our common humanity, books that teach children to recognize and respect humanity in one another,”</i> said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland .</p><p><i>“I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s both the number of challenges and the kinds of challenges. It used to be a parent had learned about a given book and had an issue with it. Now we see campaigns where organizations are compiling lists of books, without necessarily reading or even looking at them.”</i> ~Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom</p><p><i>“Librarians urge everyone to take a minute to consider why a book or resource makes us uncomfortable, what it might be trying to teach us and what we are resisting to learn. While we are willing to fight, and those fights are always worth it, they take time. They take energy, and most importantly, they remove us from our students, from our classes and from our libraries.”</i> ~Samantha Hull a librarian in Lancaster County, PA. <i>“Administrators have made hasty decisions, school board members have jumped to conclusions based on out of context excerpts, and librarians scrambled to play catch up to fight for our students’ rights.When books are removed, communities lose the voice that that book represents.”</i><br /><br /><b>More Articles to Read:</b><br /><a href="https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/study-finds-pa-school-district-leads-nation-with-most-banned-books/?fbclid=IwAR0HNS92MrpLRBeDOMlWJ5S6-8KW9QAn5MZe98YNey95e-5Iaf0yFkxxFLQ" target="_blank">abc27</a><br /><a href="https://pen.org/banned-in-the-usa/#" target="_blank">Pen America </a><br /><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/whos-behind-the-push-to-ban-books-in-schools-180980818/" target="_blank">Smithsonian Magazine</a><br /><a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10?gclid=CjwKCAiA_6yfBhBNEiwAkmXy59hZEK0yIP92XlUH7RN2z7sGLOuCM8ee3ax2hyASXH4A2FLgE71zhRoCdzIQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Top Ten Most Challenged Books, ALA</a><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/11/07/1053387447/2-students-who-helped-reverse-their-high-schools-book-ban" target="_blank">2 students who helped reverse their high school's book ban</a><br /><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/florida-book-bans-ron-desantis-b2273922.html?fbclid=IwAR2w6Dqi9tBJ8CaZjrgu5mXI1LzmB7y528POCzKKkpHGhEYybXMvaKEFBCY" target="_blank">I’m a teacher in Florida. Here’s what the DeSantis book bans look like in my classroom.</a><br /><a href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/04/07/more-than-1500-books-have-been-banned-in-public-schools-and-a-u-s-house-panel-asks-why/" target="_blank">More Than 1,500 Books Have Been Banned in Public Schools, and a U.S. House Panel Asks Why</a><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>On sale this month:<br /></i></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwMbSmfAe_CdIjtIULCG9MNiKZzX7wlHdZ4hUFFi18lg2n81ME0IxeMP0h5DiUoNPs2AkpyETXnw0PWR4D9sTqanVG6-bFK0YCtnSSyoRNe9q9PePMLpx-UKwS7GebD3FnOA8Z5npXCMZ4YChfbIlTdjfpEyUWycmJXdNZGYNd1NFfZd4Yg/s4950/CarryHerHeartHighRes.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4950" data-original-width="3300" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwMbSmfAe_CdIjtIULCG9MNiKZzX7wlHdZ4hUFFi18lg2n81ME0IxeMP0h5DiUoNPs2AkpyETXnw0PWR4D9sTqanVG6-bFK0YCtnSSyoRNe9q9PePMLpx-UKwS7GebD3FnOA8Z5npXCMZ4YChfbIlTdjfpEyUWycmJXdNZGYNd1NFfZd4Yg/w78-h117/CarryHerHeartHighRes.jpg" width="78" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3RmcyBf" target="_blank">Carry Her Heart</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGDg7-BeIpBVz8-YcE0iSIzM6QujAxuzFX0yRRc5YiChhlJGa6veBQ7C_sa9qoBTt2Lqwsc9bzBjwmuyNPgFqtF18ByWX-tLBoDI7Ti8A1T_p5JkS9ZTdPM26XAPG6p-k4Jh8lmgXgh1eYzsNVCKmdG4HW_WBU86l_FnIr6ol89J5JamKjg/s1596/Everything%20But%20a%20Groom.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="1046" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGDg7-BeIpBVz8-YcE0iSIzM6QujAxuzFX0yRRc5YiChhlJGa6veBQ7C_sa9qoBTt2Lqwsc9bzBjwmuyNPgFqtF18ByWX-tLBoDI7Ti8A1T_p5JkS9ZTdPM26XAPG6p-k4Jh8lmgXgh1eYzsNVCKmdG4HW_WBU86l_FnIr6ol89J5JamKjg/w100-h152/Everything%20But%20a%20Groom.jpg" width="100" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3DBXcTl" target="_blank">Everything but a Groom.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>And check out...</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/s400/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/w200-h200/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZH4C2" target="_blank">Surprises in All Sizes anthology.</a><br />One of my Hometown Hearts stories is included!<p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a><br />Book #2 comes out in February 7th! <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3VD5MHK" target="_blank">By Design </a>takes a the marriage of convenience trope and...well, has a bit of fun with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; 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color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-4731867025098895502023-02-02T18:31:00.002-05:002023-02-02T18:31:49.465-05:00My Place in the Woods<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC88qKVgiJNzHAF1I3psJiMxEIpkpxhUBMDTDPqBbBcA9Q8lFs1zwDuAgVCmiiy5_6M56dSbFDWou_4eS-gBe_rexIn3rxSLhOPtqNcL8CvTUnhz3_JdrLHNJsKUyei2axctQtH3i3PyIYh7c4T94vhKJeNMhMckrUZNHt5HFhCU2DkEVInQ/s4032/IMG_0606.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: left;"> ~Louise Dickinson Rich</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I fell in love with Helen Hoover's <a href="https://amzn.to/3wOGtIK" target="_blank">The Gift of the Deer</a> when I was a kid. It was in one of my mom's Reader Digest books. I read the rest of her books over the years. I stumbled on Louise Dickinson Rich about a decade ago. I loved her <a href="https://amzn.to/3HMJeRc" target="_blank">We Took to the Woods</a>. I'm reading a biography of her right now. I love the pictures she paints with her words and I find myself longing to disappear in the Maine woods. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I found out that Emily Dickinson is a shirttail cousin and Louise is her cousin, then that makes her my cousin, too. I love that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQG0QHc-sThT7Qth1utJu1XjdckIRdKMRlNb8wMl3ubQrelY2PJ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQG0QHc-sThT7Qth1utJu1XjdckIRdKMRlNb8wMl3ubQrelY2PJ" width="302" /></a></div><br />I'll confess, I feel a connection to both of these writer cousins. They saw the world differently than those around them. But I'll confess, I feel a greater connection to Louise. The biography (<a href="https://amzn.to/3DC2Kxc" target="_blank">She Took to the Woods</a>) shows Louise had her problems, but her love of nature...I get that.<br /><br />I grew up in the county. Not quite country to be honest. But I was country adjacent. I had a creek and woods behind the house. I roamed those woods with my neighbors and snuck to my favorite spots with a book as often as possible. I was an almost-country girl. My friends Tina and Mel had the most fantastic rope swings at their house. We would wind them until the ropes creaked and groaned and when they let them go...well, these days I'd be sick, but back then, it was so much fun. We built almost annual treehouses. As an adult I'm horrified that one of them was burned down by a rival group of friends. At the time, I was just mad. I caught crayfish in the creek. Sometimes I went fishing...I don't think I ever caught anything. And if I did, I blacked it out. I'm sure one of my friends had to take it off the hook for me because there's no way I'd do it then...or now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPtFBhRWSrdbmqmAhw_L_jRkq0qr7vnMdsTbDG4V_BFLSX8uxUhCRwwZCkFq_0nYjXZ8uNZ0dbE10uHMLn8sArJ2dKv9524MZV6QoVj0Are_ZW9tzUi6__9uAIwd_gdlgNPI76MnbRQqxcsltmBphbilBfGu4Bex0vAUS1vdPFWDZOAdyjQ/s4032/IMG_0617.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPtFBhRWSrdbmqmAhw_L_jRkq0qr7vnMdsTbDG4V_BFLSX8uxUhCRwwZCkFq_0nYjXZ8uNZ0dbE10uHMLn8sArJ2dKv9524MZV6QoVj0Are_ZW9tzUi6__9uAIwd_gdlgNPI76MnbRQqxcsltmBphbilBfGu4Bex0vAUS1vdPFWDZOAdyjQ/w195-h146/IMG_0617.heic" width="195" /></a>I married a city boy. And here's how you know your partner gets you...he bought me eighteen acres of woodland at a time that we couldn't afford it. Then he built me a cottage out there. Now, for over twenty years, we referred to it as a wooden tent because that's all it was. The frame of what could be. But as our kids got older, we started improvements. A well, insulation, a shed (<i>no more lawnmowers in the cottage!</i>), a barn (<i>with my pottery studio in the back!</i>) and just this last summer, we added a bedroom/bathroom addition and septic. Yep, I'm all fancy...indoor plumbing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But back to Louise and Helen. with heat and indoor plumbing, we've been spending more time out there. And it reaffirms what I always known, out there I'm truly home. Last spring on a hike, we found my hawk's nest. I got to watch the babies (<i>well, just bits of their heads over the top of the sticks</i>) all spring. I've eaten dinners watching the deer creep out of the woods into the yard. I've caught pics of a fisher and my foxes. I've seen so many fungi and mosses. I've walked a couple miles in every direction on the road. I've spent hours hiking the woods. And every moment of that, I've felt such kinship to Helen and Louise...because I am home. I'm not as deep in the woods as they were, but it's enough for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0X62mU6G3FqA6EguM0cktLfNABQZILMLj7SfIikL4hXdQbAFZhhmlONircwe5fYVokiaQ0Yo0lSIwvubjNz3LOEDuKwhF2kPrDmmIp5OyTOV52pBuwwpow5uSfQ_ewfQiVfVHOUw8sbZkrPRH1J2uh85-82vG_SStSkLt3EaVyfjkFng2Q/s1164/JOTtwilight%20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1130" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0X62mU6G3FqA6EguM0cktLfNABQZILMLj7SfIikL4hXdQbAFZhhmlONircwe5fYVokiaQ0Yo0lSIwvubjNz3LOEDuKwhF2kPrDmmIp5OyTOV52pBuwwpow5uSfQ_ewfQiVfVHOUw8sbZkrPRH1J2uh85-82vG_SStSkLt3EaVyfjkFng2Q/s320/JOTtwilight%20.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>I've written about the cottage in <a href="https://amzn.to/3lar1Uw" target="_blank">Just One Thing</a>. It's not a memoir of my time in the woods, but I think it reflects my cottage as much as their books reflected theirs..<br /><br />I feel lucky that I have a family who gets me. From Himself who bought me...HollysWoods, if you will! LOL To my kids. They keep me grounded. They keep me busy. They keep from becoming a total hermit. But there's a bit of a hermit there. They all respect that. They allow me those moments of solitude in the woods. And when I had to lose one of my shagbark hickories, Himself understood my morning. (<a href="https://amzn.to/3lar1Uw" target="_blank">It's now my counter in the bathroom.</a>) Louise understood it as well...<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>“A house you can rebuild; a bridge you can restring; a washed-out road you can fill in. But there is nothing you can do about a tree but mourn.”</i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span><span class="authorOrTitle" face="Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Louise Dickinson Rich, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><span id="quote_book_link_637330" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg420gvyRw0b7jwPznXZyl7a4T41HvSkaTdl3Eci3Gfw-sJibX1-Me5wBzKkM8qeo_apy-Nc8teEeWaRPYREyMZ3h6Jc6GWMvAtheSMcOvMqRRgOMCXk8a3D3_IVss79DZQ8B3zwHM66xMyJMs8yxFxyyTo1Ndftd_LkiTd9OGtusSTMePdaA/s4032/IMG_3356.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg420gvyRw0b7jwPznXZyl7a4T41HvSkaTdl3Eci3Gfw-sJibX1-Me5wBzKkM8qeo_apy-Nc8teEeWaRPYREyMZ3h6Jc6GWMvAtheSMcOvMqRRgOMCXk8a3D3_IVss79DZQ8B3zwHM66xMyJMs8yxFxyyTo1Ndftd_LkiTd9OGtusSTMePdaA/w139-h185/IMG_3356.heic" width="139" /></a><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/623595" style="color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">We Took to the Woods</a><br /><br />My "cousin" Emily also said...<br /><br />“Beauty is not caused. It is.”<br />― <span class="authorOrTitle" face="Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold;">Emily Dickinson<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">That's how I feel about my woods. It simply is. And every walk, I discover something new. Some new footprint, some new tree. Nature. Sun. I love every stone in my creeks. I love my trees. I mourned the ones we had to cut down. We started replanting last fall and will continue in the spring.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="authorOrTitle" face="Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObydO1Qx_dh4AoKy5rKOzKrUqdaQMPdVqgyaleNJ5ZtiamMV_WxIRKjU-Hds1ElmtPBTqCkZJh1CAAx2YlSLZJVv5-3EHcbSojDqUW7jk2wqyfrPrjY_UCgqzWOPe-GhjxE3JbZSLv9lldvqeEOtsP8ll5jMiFTHrC6vVrCkDh9NpvZhh8Q/s4032/PondFrozen.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObydO1Qx_dh4AoKy5rKOzKrUqdaQMPdVqgyaleNJ5ZtiamMV_WxIRKjU-Hds1ElmtPBTqCkZJh1CAAx2YlSLZJVv5-3EHcbSojDqUW7jk2wqyfrPrjY_UCgqzWOPe-GhjxE3JbZSLv9lldvqeEOtsP8ll5jMiFTHrC6vVrCkDh9NpvZhh8Q/w240-h180/PondFrozen.heic" width="240" /></a><span face="Lato, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"></span>If I could have a wish for all of you, I'd wish that you'd find your place. The place that soothes your soul. The place where you walk and say,<i> I'm home</i>. And more than that, I'd wish you the people who get you and who enjoy when you're with them and understand when you need a moment or two of hermitude.<br /><br />Holly<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><i>On sale this month:<br /></i></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwMbSmfAe_CdIjtIULCG9MNiKZzX7wlHdZ4hUFFi18lg2n81ME0IxeMP0h5DiUoNPs2AkpyETXnw0PWR4D9sTqanVG6-bFK0YCtnSSyoRNe9q9PePMLpx-UKwS7GebD3FnOA8Z5npXCMZ4YChfbIlTdjfpEyUWycmJXdNZGYNd1NFfZd4Yg/s4950/CarryHerHeartHighRes.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4950" data-original-width="3300" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwMbSmfAe_CdIjtIULCG9MNiKZzX7wlHdZ4hUFFi18lg2n81ME0IxeMP0h5DiUoNPs2AkpyETXnw0PWR4D9sTqanVG6-bFK0YCtnSSyoRNe9q9PePMLpx-UKwS7GebD3FnOA8Z5npXCMZ4YChfbIlTdjfpEyUWycmJXdNZGYNd1NFfZd4Yg/w78-h117/CarryHerHeartHighRes.jpg" width="78" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3RmcyBf" target="_blank">Carry Her Heart</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGDg7-BeIpBVz8-YcE0iSIzM6QujAxuzFX0yRRc5YiChhlJGa6veBQ7C_sa9qoBTt2Lqwsc9bzBjwmuyNPgFqtF18ByWX-tLBoDI7Ti8A1T_p5JkS9ZTdPM26XAPG6p-k4Jh8lmgXgh1eYzsNVCKmdG4HW_WBU86l_FnIr6ol89J5JamKjg/s1596/Everything%20But%20a%20Groom.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="1046" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGDg7-BeIpBVz8-YcE0iSIzM6QujAxuzFX0yRRc5YiChhlJGa6veBQ7C_sa9qoBTt2Lqwsc9bzBjwmuyNPgFqtF18ByWX-tLBoDI7Ti8A1T_p5JkS9ZTdPM26XAPG6p-k4Jh8lmgXgh1eYzsNVCKmdG4HW_WBU86l_FnIr6ol89J5JamKjg/w100-h152/Everything%20But%20a%20Groom.jpg" width="100" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3DBXcTl" target="_blank">Everything but a Groom.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And check out...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/s400/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/w200-h200/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZH4C2" target="_blank">Surprises in All Sizes anthology.</a><br />One of my Hometown Hearts stories is included!<p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a><br />Book #2 comes out in February 7th! <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3VD5MHK" target="_blank">By Design </a>takes a the marriage of convenience trope and...well, has a bit of fun with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">K</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Ddde7d286f3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0HmlHWmrtH9TOLDbS4sL4C" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=dde7d286f3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">obo</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D3a2b099ff3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw1xvctEPHGIMPAty54LG0dB" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=3a2b099ff3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p></div><p></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-31641430290936565232023-01-07T07:06:00.001-05:002023-01-07T07:06:07.382-05:00Cottage Tour<p>Here's the Cottage tour some of you've been asking for. <br />Oh, and Artist not Author...although I suspect you know what I meant.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7vdhbgfTZts" width="320" youtube-src-id="7vdhbgfTZts"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for checking it out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of checking out...here are a few books. The second Around the Square book is out in February!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Holly</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab6YUOrLCjQvORgcj5KvdP4Eh3ncyYkH5MOE_NW_wkbU9vUlzeoyt-e-BgLRcprDZ-FaT6cUyJ5FLrGtwVT9LwZ-G8xaVfIVAi4fxQfh-Q32yHr3MXYkxYhr1nAYRRqOh1FB8UnCJ69ulRiAdhwk98YQLUcAfDNdbHm00ru9rCMrdo7gGyw/s1980/JustOneThing.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="1320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab6YUOrLCjQvORgcj5KvdP4Eh3ncyYkH5MOE_NW_wkbU9vUlzeoyt-e-BgLRcprDZ-FaT6cUyJ5FLrGtwVT9LwZ-G8xaVfIVAi4fxQfh-Q32yHr3MXYkxYhr1nAYRRqOh1FB8UnCJ69ulRiAdhwk98YQLUcAfDNdbHm00ru9rCMrdo7gGyw/w133-h200/JustOneThing.jpg" width="133" /></a><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3GzpA9B" target="_blank">Just One Thing</a> is for sale this month on Amazon!<br />If you just watched my renovating, addition at the cottage, this book is set there in my mind!</p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3W8416B" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/s400/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/w200-h200/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />Surprises in All Sizes anthology.<br />One of my Hometown Hearts stories is included!<p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a><br />Book #2 comes out in February! <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3VD5MHK" target="_blank">By Design </a>takes a the marriage of convenience trope and...well, has a bit of fun with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-22643409773811024512023-01-04T08:33:00.003-05:002023-01-04T08:33:36.522-05:00Questions<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXVwgvnysQik8UMumulmu3TnlfpRqfIiVwz0zWo4dGnAIKKKiccdSrNupxaeLJiTudnizar5IkiFvsCbotYWDrzyXvDEHtHO8OkffsAG3vCfoGrYjWfr1ptO_Y6OCz7KPG0mnUI6MjuapORbsT0jorxBJPiBpUD0IcYCesR0RLCgU_Jc-XQ/s1181/HollyFamilyTree.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1130" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXVwgvnysQik8UMumulmu3TnlfpRqfIiVwz0zWo4dGnAIKKKiccdSrNupxaeLJiTudnizar5IkiFvsCbotYWDrzyXvDEHtHO8OkffsAG3vCfoGrYjWfr1ptO_Y6OCz7KPG0mnUI6MjuapORbsT0jorxBJPiBpUD0IcYCesR0RLCgU_Jc-XQ/s320/HollyFamilyTree.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />I love asking questions. Even more than that, I love finding answers. The Minions and I play a game in the morning...<b>ask a question</b>. Sometimes it's, "<i>What's the biggest snake in the world</i>?" (<i>The reticulated python is the longest...we went with that.</i>) Sometimes we go on long questiony journeys, one question leading to another. Sasquatch, the Wright Brothers, the Gold Rush... <p></p><p>I've found two distinct branches in my family tree that makes me wonder if my love of questions is genetic. One line is Mennonite. They came here from Switzerland and I can find their names in church lists for a couple centuries.</p><p>The other line is Quaker. I'm still tracing them back, but so far, I've found a few into the 1700's. <br /><br />I love that they all questioned the hierarchy and forged their own paths.</p><p>Then they stopped. Both lines by the mid-eighteen hundreds were no longer practicing their breakout faiths. Did each generation keep asking questions until they finally answered them? Or did they keep asking questions and never found answers and simply turned away, looking for answers in another direction? It's been fascinating research.</p><p>So many things about my family tree makes me ask questions. Trying to understand the paths that brought my people here. The Swiss/German branch seemed to come for religious liberty. I can imagine their stories. One relative was an Irish doctor who married a titled English lady and they both moved here. I can imagine their story as well. But some of them are big...well, questions. Following their paper trail will never give me all the answers to my questions, so I'm left with imagining my own.</p><p>Questions sometimes lead to concrete answers. Sometimes they lead to guesses and stories. If questioning is genetic, maybe I owe my writing career to good genes. I am a shirttail relative to Emily Dickenson. I like to think the few genetic strands we share help inspire me to find the beauty of words.</p><p>Questions. I think having a bunch of things I'm asking is a great way to start a year. I'm just a small branch on my giant family tree. I wrote a blog not long ago about <a href="https://hollyjacobs-hollyworld.blogspot.com/2022/12/mtdna-and-long-line-of-women.html" target="_blank">mtDNA</a>, where I imagined the long line of women I come from. I doubt I'll find all the answers this year, but I'm hoping I find some! And I suspect anything I discover will lead to more questions.</p><p>Wishing you a new year filled with questions...and answers.</p><p>Holly</p><p>PS Looking for something to read this new year?<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab6YUOrLCjQvORgcj5KvdP4Eh3ncyYkH5MOE_NW_wkbU9vUlzeoyt-e-BgLRcprDZ-FaT6cUyJ5FLrGtwVT9LwZ-G8xaVfIVAi4fxQfh-Q32yHr3MXYkxYhr1nAYRRqOh1FB8UnCJ69ulRiAdhwk98YQLUcAfDNdbHm00ru9rCMrdo7gGyw/s1980/JustOneThing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="1320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab6YUOrLCjQvORgcj5KvdP4Eh3ncyYkH5MOE_NW_wkbU9vUlzeoyt-e-BgLRcprDZ-FaT6cUyJ5FLrGtwVT9LwZ-G8xaVfIVAi4fxQfh-Q32yHr3MXYkxYhr1nAYRRqOh1FB8UnCJ69ulRiAdhwk98YQLUcAfDNdbHm00ru9rCMrdo7gGyw/w133-h200/JustOneThing.jpg" width="133" /></a>Looking for something to read in 2023? Check out:<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3GzpA9B" target="_blank">Just One Thing</a> is for sale this month on Amazon!<br />If you've followed my renovating, addition at the cottage, this book is set there in my mind!</p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3W8416B" target="_blank"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/s400/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8FvncN9PRQQsJqS7fbOSH1bTmJr9mzvzSy-41lS_ZE4GpA6iWzoAtbYfGj1ptk53qDPXGrmgaoVU-erMkydeXW0gQIa9eHhK5WrTeDQewdvsHDRm8amHgDTth2dyX04WXaGciYzyP3E0wk3UYS9ptqGeaJctsI5rh2WhjcvtpsS1RuCo_w/w200-h200/SURPRISES%20NEW%203D%20fabric%20back%20w%20review%20quote%20orange.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />Surprises in All Sizes anthology.<br />One of my Hometown Hearts stories is included!<p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a><br />Book #2 comes out in February! <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3VD5MHK" target="_blank">By Design </a>takes a the marriage of convenience trope and...well, has a bit of fun with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/w133-h200/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-29846772518464660572023-01-01T06:29:00.003-05:002023-01-01T06:29:33.058-05:00Word of the Year—2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils-Eyc9nvGAweZ09JkS49l9rgLZLybBQfhu1Qx-CWPIphZW8anv4Ru7R6FgFaxDiwpko_cXg8Ad-kFss_vBwA0cJr03hM3IY2OzokTePIg1WIM7pT_AQWfpGpsc2eD_e8Pj8a8kG_yD7NY07isFNc8gkScV08yKsWsTr5XYFatlKJZFw5dA/s1425/WordOfTheYear2023.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1010" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils-Eyc9nvGAweZ09JkS49l9rgLZLybBQfhu1Qx-CWPIphZW8anv4Ru7R6FgFaxDiwpko_cXg8Ad-kFss_vBwA0cJr03hM3IY2OzokTePIg1WIM7pT_AQWfpGpsc2eD_e8Pj8a8kG_yD7NY07isFNc8gkScV08yKsWsTr5XYFatlKJZFw5dA/w262-h370/WordOfTheYear2023.png" width="262" /></a></div><br />Last year my Word of the Year was <i><b>Thankful</b></i>. And I have so much to be thankful about. My family. My friends. Indoor plumbing...LOL<br /><br />In past years I've had words like Patience, Stretch, Step, Glee, Hope, Time, Chapter, Stop...<p></p><p>As every new year approaches, I spend some time thinking about what I want to concentrate on for the next twelves months. I went round and round this year, not quite able to settle on any one thing. Finally I had it. I've talked before about how little things make me happy. But little things is two words. I know, I could have cheated, and I thought about it. But I hit on an adjacent word...<b><i>Mindful</i></b>. To be honest, it's a more powerful word than little-things. I plan to spend 2023 concentrating on the small moments that give me glee and hope. Moments with my kids and with the Minions. Moments with Himself. Moments with friends. Moments at the cottage. Moments in the studio. Beautiful, glorious moments.</p><p>But I'm sure there will be other moments to be <b><i>Mindful</i></b> of.<br /><br />There's a poem I learned when I was very young...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gZBYGjf2E71vc4rcPAMR_cXxT55gokF4b3QyrfPlsMxtLK5RdcaMp-YP5jzYZ05MF4Tx3zeip4JjF-y-vIS_PeskZ4QRrerkZ5H6GrLj4l3I2Kc2hDzm43m_hmyqEyByKCQa/s568/Holly%2526Tallulah.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gZBYGjf2E71vc4rcPAMR_cXxT55gokF4b3QyrfPlsMxtLK5RdcaMp-YP5jzYZ05MF4Tx3zeip4JjF-y-vIS_PeskZ4QRrerkZ5H6GrLj4l3I2Kc2hDzm43m_hmyqEyByKCQa/w113-h200/Holly%2526Tallulah.JPG" width="113" /></a></p><p><i>“I walked a mile with Pleasure;<br />She chatted all the way;<br />But left me none the wiser<br />For all she had to say.</i></p><p><i>I walked a mile with Sorrow;<br />And ne’er a word said she;<br />But, oh! The things I learned from her,<br />When Sorrow walked with me.”</i></p><p>― Robert Browning Hamilton</p><p>So more than being mindful of the small, gleeful moments I'm hoping being <b><i>Mindful</i></b> reminds me to embrace those moments that aren't as gleeful or aren't gleeful at all. I want to meet them head on and see what lessons they leave me with. Lessons and gifts. I think most of our problems comes with one or the other...frequently both.<br /><br />When I started writing, I wrote straight up romantic comedy. Books like <i>I Waxed My Legs for This? </i>my PTA Moms, Everything But...series, <i>Not Precisely Pregnant</i>. But over time, I've added more serious books. Books that deal with those non-gleeful moments. <i>Briar Hill Road</i>, <i>Just One Thing, Carry Her Heart,</i> my Hometown Hearts series... They all taught me so much as I wrote them. I'll confess, I cried more than once with all of them. But each left me some new insight about myself and about life. Just like those harder moments in real life leave us gifts. <br /></p><p>So I will be <b><i>Mindful </i></b>and try to embrace all the moments 2023 offers me. I will try to recognize them and hold them close. </p><p>As the new year begins, I wish you all a marvelous, gleeful year!</p><p>Holly</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaohRBrtv1PH8PAdB--2pM__OeAC4VBp2PXOUaIlT5mRQ2fbaPSunz16G7S8HHHYMHNpQDAIBLEXPoj47i6NUGReucR2lXtYG2TeNTlvd2iU0Ku5UhP4cSzIHMQyoSGgaZmet3n19mzpW_GrVNTe1RIK5HGJjxH9vXqeC6gqFSlNpBdKMvTQ/s400/SURPRISES%20ALL%20SIZES%20NEW%203D.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="400" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaohRBrtv1PH8PAdB--2pM__OeAC4VBp2PXOUaIlT5mRQ2fbaPSunz16G7S8HHHYMHNpQDAIBLEXPoj47i6NUGReucR2lXtYG2TeNTlvd2iU0Ku5UhP4cSzIHMQyoSGgaZmet3n19mzpW_GrVNTe1RIK5HGJjxH9vXqeC6gqFSlNpBdKMvTQ/w184-h165/SURPRISES%20ALL%20SIZES%20NEW%203D.png" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>Looking for something to read in 2023? Check out:<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3W8416B" target="_blank">Surprises in All Sizes anthology.</a><br />One of my Hometown Hearts stories is included!</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s320/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s320" width="213" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-7322851224339706032022-12-16T12:08:00.000-05:002022-12-16T12:08:01.604-05:00mtDNA and a long line of women...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.genome.gov/sites/default/files/media/images/tg/Mitochondrial-DNA.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="220" src="https://www.genome.gov/sites/default/files/media/images/tg/Mitochondrial-DNA.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>Yes, another post about my family tree...well, sort of. I'm combining that with a bit of geeky science stuff. <i>(And for those who know of me deep affection for Schrodinger's Cat and Pi Day, well, this post won't surprise you. LOL)</i><p></p><p>As I plunge into my past, I can't help notice how often one of my grandmother's names is lost to history. My grandfather's name is there...in a census, on a property deed or in a will. His wife's name? It's a bit more hit or miss. She might be simply listed as Mrs. John Smith. </p><p>It's so frustrating. I've dug through so many death certificates, looking for a maternal name.<br />That led me to mulling over the idea of Mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA.<br /><br />I might like geeky science stuff, but I'm not a scientist, so my explanation is very layperson. You get your mitochondria from your mother. (<i>Okay, I read a piece that some paternal mtDNA can sneak in, but let's just go with maternal.) </i>So as I look at my family tree, at those named and unnamed women on the female branches of my tree, I realize that I share the same mitochondria as them. I'm bumping into an issue with my 3rd great-grandmother. I can't pinpoint her first name, much less her last name. She's listed in a deed transfer as John and wife.</p><p><i><b>And wife.</b></i></p><p>Now I want to be clear, I am thrilled to be Himself's wife. And I'd like to think he's thrilled to be my husband. But I've never been one to use the title Mrs. Himself. I'm mainly Ms. Holly, when I use an honorific at all. Mainly I'm just Holly or Hall. Sometimes even Hey You. </p><p>This matter of family, or names is something I've mulled a lot in the past. I was born with one man's last name. I adopted another man's last name. I married and happily took Himself's last name. And I when I started writing, I wrote under an altogether new last name. </p><p>Through all those names, I've been Holly. It's a name my mother gave me in hopes that it would never lead to a nickname...which of course explains they I've spent most of my life as Hall. (<i>Poor Mom.</i>) </p><p>Anyway, you can trace your mtDNA all the way to Africa and see how your tribe of foremothers migrated. All my children carry my mtDNA, but only my daughters will pass it on. Their children will have it, but only a granddaughter will pass it on. I love that image of a long line of women. One after another. Mother to daughter down the line. And then, someday, when I'm gone, that mtDNA I inherited from my mother will still be out there, moving down the line. I love that piece of immortality. It makes me feel a little better about the unnamed women in my family tree...a piece of them is still here.<br /><br />On a total aside, in a very geeky tangent, I was talking about the nuclear fusion experiment with the Minions today. I really am so excited about this giant step. But how to talk about fusion vs fission with kids. Hmm. My layperson explanation worked well. Imagine smashing rocks apart. Pieces would fly everywhere. The little pieces? Those are radiation and they're bad for you. But if you take a couple rocks and glue them together...there are no little bits (<i>radiation</i>). That idea of clean, unlimited energy is so exciting, even though it's decades away!<br /><br />Yeah, I know. I romance novelist talking mtDNA and nuclear fission...just another day in my life. LOL</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaohRBrtv1PH8PAdB--2pM__OeAC4VBp2PXOUaIlT5mRQ2fbaPSunz16G7S8HHHYMHNpQDAIBLEXPoj47i6NUGReucR2lXtYG2TeNTlvd2iU0Ku5UhP4cSzIHMQyoSGgaZmet3n19mzpW_GrVNTe1RIK5HGJjxH9vXqeC6gqFSlNpBdKMvTQ/s400/SURPRISES%20ALL%20SIZES%20NEW%203D.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="400" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaohRBrtv1PH8PAdB--2pM__OeAC4VBp2PXOUaIlT5mRQ2fbaPSunz16G7S8HHHYMHNpQDAIBLEXPoj47i6NUGReucR2lXtYG2TeNTlvd2iU0Ku5UhP4cSzIHMQyoSGgaZmet3n19mzpW_GrVNTe1RIK5HGJjxH9vXqeC6gqFSlNpBdKMvTQ/s320/SURPRISES%20ALL%20SIZES%20NEW%203D.png" width="320" /></a></div>Holly<div><br />That idea of finding family runs through all my books, but especially in my Hometown Hearts series. You can find the whole series <a href="https://amzn.to/3VZJFfu" target="_blank">here</a>, and one of them, Something Perfect, is part of a new anthology, S<a href="https://amzn.to/3BH34dc" target="_blank">urprises Come in all Sizes</a>. The whole collection is only $.99. It's a great way to try it out along with some marvelous stories by other bestselling, award winning authors! I'm so thrilled to be in an anthology with them!<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-75727622109045684622022-12-12T18:49:00.001-05:002022-12-12T18:49:09.895-05:00Tangents<p>I follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blackforager/" target="_blank">Alexis Nikole</a> on Instagram. She's a forager whose enthusiasm is contagious. (<i>One of the Minions adores her videos. He laughs every time she ends a video by saying, "Don't die."</i>) She mentioned a book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3hWrEQ7" target="_blank">Braiding Sweetgrass</a> by Robin Wall Kimmerer in one of her videos. I picked it up and loved the lyrical sense of wonder about the beauty of science in nature. Today's chapter reminded me of summers in the woods when I was growing up. Eating wild strawberries, hiking the creek, hiding with a book in a small clearing I dubbed Lothlorien (<i>I was/am a Tolkien nerd</i>). Kimmerer's stories of Skywoman spoke to me. <i>"On one side of the world were people whose relationship with the living world was shaped by Skywoman, who created a garden for the well-being of all. On the other side was another woman with a garden and a tree. But for tasting its fruit, she was banished from the garden and the gates clanged shut behind her. That mother of men was made to wander in the wilderness and earn her bread by the sweat of her brow, not by filling her mouth with the sweet juicy fruits that bend the brands low. In order to eat, she was instructed to subdue the wilderness into which she was cast." <br /></i><br />As I read, I remembered another book that I hadn't picked up in years. <a href="https://amzn.to/3UURTFk" target="_blank">Women Who Run With the Wolves</a>—Clarissa Pinkola Estes. So I picked it up, thinking I'd read about Skywoman there. It wasn't there (<i>or I didn't find it skimming</i>) but I did re-find Baba Yaga's tale again and Estes' assessment, <i>"Baba Yaga, the Wild Mother...instructs the ordering of the house of the soul. She imbues an alternate order to the ego, one where magic can happen, joy can be done, appetite is intact, things are accomplished with gusto." </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJhFZthHJ3wq-mD0JE4e1yvm0gKDow_kOaodbUGjL4e-3sG4PP8PrYgq6CGQNlLSQoXkJuCyQCI86uAMdY2RSmSnPJdKjf4BFTuZweAdSMLaXhc09hF09odpkFJPmnLhGrteW8BuVxU1FnmtN94Yt8GvlrN8-ddGM2fSu8Dx5De17yGEMuA/s823/IMG_0042.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="823" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJhFZthHJ3wq-mD0JE4e1yvm0gKDow_kOaodbUGjL4e-3sG4PP8PrYgq6CGQNlLSQoXkJuCyQCI86uAMdY2RSmSnPJdKjf4BFTuZweAdSMLaXhc09hF09odpkFJPmnLhGrteW8BuVxU1FnmtN94Yt8GvlrN8-ddGM2fSu8Dx5De17yGEMuA/s320/IMG_0042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>There. Magic.</p><p>A tangent led me to what I didn't even know I was looking for.<br /><br />Magic has been in my mind. I caught that picture at the cottage one evening recently. Perhaps it's a fairy? It's easy to believe in fairies out there.<br /><br />We spent a cold snowy night at the cottage. I got up a bit later than normal, but still was out in the woods just after sunrise, and breathed in the silence in the trees. In the snowy morning woods, it's easy to believe in magic and in the power to create it.</p><p>As a writer, I believe in magic because my stories start as a glimmer of an idea and a blank page and grow into something that's alive in its own right. When I read the opening of <a href="https://amzn.to/3FJlhcn" target="_blank">Hold Her Heart</a>, I tear up EVERY time. It's a sequel to <a href="https://amzn.to/3PiV6wp" target="_blank">Carry Her Heart</a> and I knew from the beginning how it ends. I know that even when I run my characters through the wringer, they get a happily ever after, and yet, I tear up. Because my character doesn't know it yet. And he's so very real to me. That's magic.<br /><br />I started walking miles every day, not in a gym, but outside. I've found it makes me more in tune with the world around me. The rhythm of the day. The rhythm of the year. As I walk I notice grass that's almost painfully green in the spring, that fades to a duller green in the summer and finally is covered with brilliantly white snow in the winter. It's magic. The circular essence of nature echoes the circular journey of being a woman. Skywoman who fell to earth and became an element of creation and dies giving birth (<i>creating</i>), Baba Yaga, who is ambiguous...sometimes portrayed as good, sometimes not so much. That duality seems truthful to me. She inspires magic.<br /><br />We start out as a child who believes in magic, reach the busy years of career and family responsibilities—time when we forget magic exists—then reach a place where the world slows a bit and we can see the magic of a fairy in the woods, or the magic of watching a child we gave birth to grow into an amazing adult. We have time to notice the magic that surrounds us again. That's a gift.</p><p>And there you go. That's how my circular sense of tangents works. I start reading one book, remember something in another and pretty soon I'm surrounded by new and old books, reflecting that life is a series of tangents and if we're smart, we'll take a second to enjoy the magic in those moments!<br /><br />I think I hear a Minion asking if their favorite forager has a new video! That's magic, too! </p><p>Holly</p><p>Looking for something to read? Check out:<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3W8416B" target="_blank">Surprises in All Sizes anthology.</a></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s320/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s320" width="213" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-31320032565727015172022-12-07T13:26:00.003-05:002022-12-07T13:26:26.655-05:00HerStory<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHG5LXuY9GxTb0T5-ljjNCOBMOzFs7u1OIMPq-PcvR0Hq2_oRUjg47uF6wR4LIRJ1DmWJ7X0E9ihXfyS8_RWLWcmPu3w-Aerc804VQFE5R_NLzqI1bzCCwLP2EO62x1orjEEcWBF0cxZsC-TQ1KsbswgSBKNPf9odKdGuNJbTLddlEBrLCA/s1000/BarnSmallerFile.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHG5LXuY9GxTb0T5-ljjNCOBMOzFs7u1OIMPq-PcvR0Hq2_oRUjg47uF6wR4LIRJ1DmWJ7X0E9ihXfyS8_RWLWcmPu3w-Aerc804VQFE5R_NLzqI1bzCCwLP2EO62x1orjEEcWBF0cxZsC-TQ1KsbswgSBKNPf9odKdGuNJbTLddlEBrLCA/s320/BarnSmallerFile.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>I love my little house in the big woods. <i>(Yep, that was a shout out to one of my favorite books growing up!)</i> I married a city boy, but I grew up in the county and missed it so much he bought me some acreage years ago. It's only a bit more than a half hour from home, which makes it easy to head out whenever I need a country fix. Since I put my pottery studio in our barn out there, I've been going out even more often.<p></p><p>I feel connected to that land. I have since we found it. We've spent years building/renovating our cottage out there. Thirty years after we built it, it finally got indoor plumbing. I know. I'm so fancy! We added the barn and my studio a couple years ago. Small project after small project. Then these last few big projects.<br /><br /> Most of my decor is house-sale-yard-sale finds. One of my recent treasures for the cottage was a map of our township. I am not good with maps, but himself pointed our our place. A few miles to the north was part of my family's homestead...I knew about that one. But imagine my delight as I studied the map and found another branch of my tree... a third great-grandfather. His name's on the map just a couple miles from our place. I've walked by where his house was. It's so cool finding my feeling of connection might have been my very deep roots in the area.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZSkF8HrUwbe7gc0qCVoVAzMB5m-9vnShKXpbbPtzkHo6JQbTnDIjlTBLZVA4R_5I6-98qUXk1b7VbOl99O4QcI4aNCWJDYQrTQizXXBBt9N-uJmYlDCV6FzT-UvJZFUfa__8vJgyAE7_IPnu9EXzdBLjvgd0nE5QqWk6ZMMbkBGDn_M5xA/s1280/CottageBuild.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZSkF8HrUwbe7gc0qCVoVAzMB5m-9vnShKXpbbPtzkHo6JQbTnDIjlTBLZVA4R_5I6-98qUXk1b7VbOl99O4QcI4aNCWJDYQrTQizXXBBt9N-uJmYlDCV6FzT-UvJZFUfa__8vJgyAE7_IPnu9EXzdBLjvgd0nE5QqWk6ZMMbkBGDn_M5xA/w164-h123/CottageBuild.heic" width="164" /></a></div>I've been working on my family tree for a few years. For someone who didn't have any clue on more than half of her tree for most of her life, my discoveries give me such glee. My maternal family comes from pre-revolution New England. My paternal family comes from the pre-revolution south...the Appalachian Mountains. After years of not quite knowing where I was from, I've traced my family back to the 1700s. A few of the more famous branches, even further.<br /><br />Where I come from...how I ended up here. It's a never-ending source of fascination for me. That looking for family—for where we belong—is a theme that occurs often in my books.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF6R_iDUbFcJ3oaOX8kKo3ncQlwN-3JluEZ4EhDR26Ftln9xXxYZR1j6BpTxBcyThlc4KMMRa0TX1hRP-6PhS-kwEI47i3WBJNgvEBEKPO-MVz9r83BqzhQR3-zGBUIlKgKwUZfCcVHPVXa6yhXZ0UbVP4wyOLecLFXuZXJrbngbNfMAJIA/s800/CottageAddition.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF6R_iDUbFcJ3oaOX8kKo3ncQlwN-3JluEZ4EhDR26Ftln9xXxYZR1j6BpTxBcyThlc4KMMRa0TX1hRP-6PhS-kwEI47i3WBJNgvEBEKPO-MVz9r83BqzhQR3-zGBUIlKgKwUZfCcVHPVXa6yhXZ0UbVP4wyOLecLFXuZXJrbngbNfMAJIA/w199-h129/CottageAddition.heic" width="199" /></a></div>My whole <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086YKQ4NP?binding=kindle_edition&searchxofy=true&qid=1668613059&sr=1-15" target="_blank">Hometown Heart</a> series asked that question over and over again in each book. The first book in my Harry's Pottery series, <a href="https://amzn.to/3Objb7K" target="_blank">A View to a Kiln</a>, asks the question. Should Harry (<i>the heroine</i>) follow a well plotted path, or follow her passion?<br /><p></p><p>I'll confess, I love Erie. I write about Erie a lot. Erie has big city amenities and a small town feel. If you haven't checked out the first book in my <a href="https://amzn.to/3txw96g" target="_blank">Around the Square</a> series, <i>Signs of the Times,</i> you'll find yourself in the heart of Erie...and hopefully the Christmasy story will touch your heart. <br /><br />I love both our town house and little house in the big woods, but truly where I belong is with my family. I was so excited that everyone was home for Thanksgiving. There are a lot of us now, so the house was packed, but the chaos was part of the fun! Chaos and family...that does describe most of my books. LOL<br /><br />And yes, all of them ask <i>Where do I belong? </i>in one way or another...and every person should ask that question as well. I've asked and answered it over and over...I belong wherever my family is. In the woods, in the city...where they are is my true home. My history (<i>HerStory?!</i>) brought me to right where I am...and where I am is pretty darn perfect.<br /><br />Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!</p><p>Holly</p><p>If you have a moment, pick out a Holly Jacobs book for your Christmas reading!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenDidxl2nfXNh1pxzs3viKzcCgb0xBjDh3zU1BCOzQjhCSCgKYsPd5LEaqW2fh4VeY04Mz-7UKvt75PhOgURMKt7PbYgkt_TF_ZtP0E6ciGcncIKEaVQelkaRYt6qp2R_R6vnVaNYNS1-Fy-zx4rzhxNQyIGwAUkEe2aiwVhGR94vvjGmXw/s1344/ChristmasBooks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenDidxl2nfXNh1pxzs3viKzcCgb0xBjDh3zU1BCOzQjhCSCgKYsPd5LEaqW2fh4VeY04Mz-7UKvt75PhOgURMKt7PbYgkt_TF_ZtP0E6ciGcncIKEaVQelkaRYt6qp2R_R6vnVaNYNS1-Fy-zx4rzhxNQyIGwAUkEe2aiwVhGR94vvjGmXw/s320/ChristmasBooks.png" width="306" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><br />HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-72004947283889473212022-11-29T13:28:00.000-05:002022-11-29T13:28:10.951-05:00Very cool news...<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm in a new anthology with some of my (your) favorite authors!! <br /><br /></span></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 22px; line-height: 33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLtQJgegQGadwW9PTNF8PFCDKS7PUzjulIPUeOJjzuqaAq53hG17GFEWgSybpjY-NkQh43rIgYms7WOV098XZSzYwPEWwmMiL2aAomQnZAAApWnlhUSCF_5CSnkbUvY5TRISn7OmdYePizp-xslpYrMDkiXkAVhC8cvuTbHRovj5LzaPWMA/s500/SurprisesComeInAllSizes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="500" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLtQJgegQGadwW9PTNF8PFCDKS7PUzjulIPUeOJjzuqaAq53hG17GFEWgSybpjY-NkQh43rIgYms7WOV098XZSzYwPEWwmMiL2aAomQnZAAApWnlhUSCF_5CSnkbUvY5TRISn7OmdYePizp-xslpYrMDkiXkAVhC8cvuTbHRovj5LzaPWMA/s320/SurprisesComeInAllSizes.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />When I was asked to take part in a book with some of my favorite authors, I jumped at the chance! It's out today! Yep, 8 books by bestselling authors for just $.99!!<br /><br /><em>Draco’s Marriage Pact - Day Leclaire</em><br />When a one night stand results in a secret baby, can enemies become lovers by creating a marriage pact?<br /><br /><em>A Daddy for Nate - Karen Sandler</em><br />When Jameson leaves Folsom Prison, he returns to Hart Valley, the one place he'd ever considered home. Within minutes, Nina blows up his world when she reveals their one night of passion brought a beautiful little boy into the world. Jameson insists on being part of Nate and Nina’s lives despite the years of tragedy and personal sacrifice that separated them. Can their pint-sized miracle somehow unite them in love?<br /><br /><em>Never Say Never - Debra Salonen</em><br />Lisa loved Joe once upon a time. They had a moment. But Lisa chose to marry Joe’s brother, her son’s father. Or did she pick the wrong twin?<br /><br /><em>The Daughter He Never Knew - Linda Barrett</em><br />Jason loved her but left her after his twin brother died on the night of their senior prom. “Tell Lila not to wait…”<br />Nine years later, when Lila is ready to marry someone else and give her daughter a family, a new message arrives. “Tell Lila I’m coming home.”<br /><br /><strong><em>Something Perfect - Holly Jacobs</em></strong><br />They were the perfect couple…Until they weren’t.<br />Maybe true love can bring them back together.<br /><br /><em>The Unforgettable Sheikh - Barbara McMahon</em><br />Three thousand miles away and ten years ago was the last time Chloe saw the man. Now Sheikh Karif bin Shakirah is face to face with her and all she can think of is the daughter he know nothing about. Can they ever overcome the past or will heartbreak and betrayal be too strong to surmount?<br /><br /><em>Sweet Montana Secrets - Lisa Mondello</em><br />They say time heals all wounds, but time doesn't make you forget who you were.<br />Ten years ago, Hunter Williams' life was a mess. Even so, he hadn't expected to be completely taken by Julie Samuel, a beautiful young woman who took riding lessons at the ranch he worked at. But their love hadn't been enough to conquer his demons or the secret she carried. Ten years later, can their love survive the truth and be rekindled to the blaze it once was?<br /><br /><strong><em>Texas Bad Boy - Jean Brashear</em></strong><br />Everyone thinks Lacey DeMille is the next thing to royalty, a society girl with beauty, brains and money—but sexy Texas bad boy Devlin Marlowe knows better. Twenty years after being exiled in disgrace for daring to want her, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks has sweet revenge in his grasp...for only he knows that her whole life is built on a lie.<br />And revenge may be more costly than either of them can imagine.<br /><br />I hope you'll check it out!! It's available for your Kindle and for Kindle Unlimited for just $.99!!!</h3></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 18px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #009fc7; border-radius: 3px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 18px;" valign="middle"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D3d3d7a00ae%26e%3D810f0ace49&source=gmail&ust=1669822257526000&usg=AOvVaw0WiaeqtjdK23iPkNeD9wTv" href="https://amzn.to/3uaY7Fq" style="color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Start Shopping">Start Shopping</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While you're shopping, please check out my '22 releases!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s320/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; 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font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s320" width="213" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-15471992863012035852022-11-22T06:34:00.000-05:002022-11-22T06:34:01.946-05:00The HOLLYdays are Here!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI2RAwCrv0xCcHA8bxfTJiZo7QIshtKVVhELhTafYyIbsB3nptdl4KcUdpKFTz2g00oZ5VZPgl2PaboUywTMiuTQcAF4KfApIQZcpCnOBh0EXujrjkaGnjTHAs7bi6kcMTRvLZf9uec1Qd_ftNKk1i1P_hdMqt3YvIOKK4D-bBdeCQNKnAw/s1346/PTAMomsThansDay.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI2RAwCrv0xCcHA8bxfTJiZo7QIshtKVVhELhTafYyIbsB3nptdl4KcUdpKFTz2g00oZ5VZPgl2PaboUywTMiuTQcAF4KfApIQZcpCnOBh0EXujrjkaGnjTHAs7bi6kcMTRvLZf9uec1Qd_ftNKk1i1P_hdMqt3YvIOKK4D-bBdeCQNKnAw/s320/PTAMomsThansDay.png" width="319" /></a></div>For years I volunteered at my kids' schools. My longest stint was as the Kindergarten Story Lady. <i>(I wrote about it in <a href="https://amzn.to/3TV7Rha" target="_blank">Carry Her Heart</a>/<a href="https://amzn.to/3AVEQLZ" target="_blank">Hold Her Heart</a>...everything is fodder for my books! LOL</i>) My second longest stint was as a PTA Mom. For years, I was in charge of the annual Feather Party's kids' games. It was utter chaos...and utter fun. When I started writing my PTA Mom Holiday books, I knew there'd be a similar Thanksgiving event (<i>there aren't many Thanksgiving books!)</i>. The heroine is a single mom with way too much on her plate, but she still finds time to volunteer...and maybe fall in love? <br /><br />My premise for the series was three PTA Moms miss the first meeting of the year and get assigned to the worst PTA Committee. They'll be in charge of the PTA holiday events. I'll confess, I'm very proud of the Thanksgiving play in Once Upon a Thanksgiving...I wrote it. Well, I didn't write a whole play, which is a shame because I've had school teachers reach out about it. One of these days, I may finish it.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ja8VlWgbZ_I2ynODBqNYQg4T7FTgrvFLR7bDcTR8oNuvvAy74T9GRy80Xidn8uxgKG4uRZaVE-sz0oPuq1K9SisTdEobeygnZ1d3Y39efA-9MZW7CzDbGCuhq24VRUpMCEpWKhhaS7lplDfEwfMnzw1vOO4BzwrfsWWuAkAdgNwmkg6kWw/s1153/PTAMomsChristmasSpider.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1153" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ja8VlWgbZ_I2ynODBqNYQg4T7FTgrvFLR7bDcTR8oNuvvAy74T9GRy80Xidn8uxgKG4uRZaVE-sz0oPuq1K9SisTdEobeygnZ1d3Y39efA-9MZW7CzDbGCuhq24VRUpMCEpWKhhaS7lplDfEwfMnzw1vOO4BzwrfsWWuAkAdgNwmkg6kWw/s320/PTAMomsChristmasSpider.png" width="320" /></a></div>The second book has a Christmas poem that was inspired by one of my favorite high school teachers. (<i>Remember I said, everything is fodder!</i>) She gave me a pipe cleaner spider for my tree and every year it's the first ornament I put up! The heroine of Once Upon a Christmas is a single woman, raising her sister's child...a child who's father shows up on her doorstep.<br /><br />Writing the third book, Once Upon a Valentine's, was...well a treat. In the first two books, I talk about the heroine being an accidental arsonist. Her husband cheated on her...on a couch she bought. She asked for the couch in the divorce...but didn't want to sit on it. I mean, who would? She wanted to burn it...and took out a neighbor's shed along with it, by accident. In the third book, she is serving her community service and planning the most romantic event of the school year...the Valentine's Dance. She's not in a very romantic mood! LOL But sometimes love happens in its own time<p></p><p>The book bundle includes a short story featuring the PTA president as well!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVtG16hM-xlrR9R368EyjUrfCYGu8mNAnwDeup11uHf23LRsa3jV3E-_Foq3dcarGWWYshUhy32w7N0htIRRMojrpeChVmx_PnUQEDhzME-KzEEnljbgOQ3IdYNBtCvuRKeks8TbfuI4llww82LGU8mH9n_INekwu19DY97e4htKUZWrHcQ/s246/PTAMomsSeries_3DBundle_200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="200" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVtG16hM-xlrR9R368EyjUrfCYGu8mNAnwDeup11uHf23LRsa3jV3E-_Foq3dcarGWWYshUhy32w7N0htIRRMojrpeChVmx_PnUQEDhzME-KzEEnljbgOQ3IdYNBtCvuRKeks8TbfuI4llww82LGU8mH9n_INekwu19DY97e4htKUZWrHcQ/s1600/PTAMomsSeries_3DBundle_200.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3Xmy4s3" target="_blank">The PTA Moms Collection</a> is on sale for Thanksgiving. Just $.99 for the whole series! If you've read them before, I hope you'll share the sale with friends! (And thank you!) If you haven't read them, I hope you'll give them a try!<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving!<br /><br />Holly<br /><br />PS Check out this year's releases while you're shopping!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s1500/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuhvkeXH1yXv_AhxF3lRYYi3imNrXvu6gqp1b8uZJQYGAUvhLlyNsLlM7XQnLmfyAHEGPrqaIx6pN6OrLGskJIC8jyme7CnZFcf1FrTf-wrDup8bYB0rlZeJnCm49em5j35Au-ncdZmoL_SZN8m4xMG7bSCZcfKPHHHVvUZi9Q8G7Yit7hA/s320/SignsOfTheTimes3DeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br />Signs of the Times<br />Available for <a href="https://amzn.to/3EtN7Yn" target="_blank">Kindle and Kindle Unlimited</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s320/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><p><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">K</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Ddde7d286f3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0HmlHWmrtH9TOLDbS4sL4C" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=dde7d286f3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">obo</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D3a2b099ff3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw1xvctEPHGIMPAty54LG0dB" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=3a2b099ff3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s320" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><p><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>
</b></p><br /><p></p>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-1871133724299220882022-10-06T10:57:00.003-04:002022-10-06T10:57:33.036-04:00October 2022 Newsletter<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-7709474377288668381templateHeader" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><h1 style="font-size: 26px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Come home to stories of love and laughter.</h1></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td id="m_-7709474377288668381templateBody" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top: 2px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><img class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhnIiEPDtnbGedj3BLrruDDdxP-uoW6idwNwjvqr0GSzpW-VRIFrDr2vymmNvsAKc0cO6vUZCptyU1noDFSpNMwyCMTJulLB7VElmRrussdZoDyhyXBiu5bBbxHcd5sfTf2hg1pT_u1FjCttr7CObK6l7b-19i5unSoj6YghZw9WhhXK6PhlbXrbSFJyc8g8poSpCLtracgN3gtllBeNQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 122px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" /><br />The next two years will bring an Kindle-only (<em>also available with Amazon Unlimited</em>) ebook series, <em>Around the Square!</em> The first book, Signs of the Times is out today!!<br /><br /><br /><em><strong>Listen With Your Heart</strong></em><img class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhRwcjyTS81I8EkQROfUjJrSWw9V8jMrxxPqoBtIilH_04tY-99h-sZH0DrGp5DM_bNPKwmeYSBBhP7alxAsJ3UjurkWhpLoIbwt9XE_U014fKTG_Jfav7rxeIdzCjGq1XLGvnZetgd1pTOF1AyyApNEH3iTrgJIkQBB3nHC3b3Lt4CYuVG23Bx8C7NVCGyWgSkLg2CtOCkDCnWnTRseA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 300px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" width="300" /><br /><br />Libby has one great love in her life…her daughter. As a business owner and the mother of a hearing impaired daughter, her life is busy. She doesn’t have time or any interest in romance. But when she’s teamed up with a new business neighbor, Josh Gardner, to plan a Christmas party, she finds herself reconsidering. Can a woman who doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after and a man who’s given up on love listen to their hearts?<br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D2599db3127%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw1EU3swuKBMnIq3t4M8hkh4" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=2599db3127&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Shop Now for Signs of the Times.</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-top: 2px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">I'm so very excited about Around the Square! But there's a lot in my life that's exciting. This year's A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery got a shout out on Jeopardy!! I didn't know that was a goal until a friend gave me the heads up! You can check out the video <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D4e5525026e%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw2jaCGrVDbJ4kelx4u6sd5i" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=4e5525026e&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><br />And for all of you who follow me on social media, the cottage addition is almost done! When it's finished, I'll make a final tour video, but in the meantime, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D448df4bd66%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw13MgjuHem5XGCsFyNOWttQ" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=448df4bd66&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">here's a video of the almost-done renovations! </a><br />I know. Indoor plumbing. I'm soooo fancy!<br /><br />It's been a crazy summer and I don't think things will be slowing down anytime soon! You can check out this year's releases:<br /><br /><img class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEidWBnWBW6UINwQGEFZcX223ZIuje__sRyzF9Uwit-5Jy3v6zjramrvldjv5VLXN-i-hH3-vwBrG4tjS3DWVorLbJfbnUqAQzOmL8WwUNkRdXAm8YLCYgL04sp07Ghpvr9jbukJO3kvQBCOyLxCTaD3P6ni2Rm5Xsd_HuCg2O-TJGg4wP9AbV90CRba4YnMlF4jS2Q9YBNgMHtI0N35zw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 112px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 75px;" width="75" />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D11a0ca0c3e%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw2NIIqsO-nAHUYTNpkzj7ez" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=11a0ca0c3e&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Da449805ef3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw3FHVJbraeu6UqNgCA2EC0U" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=a449805ef3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D5a07b1ffca%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw2EcZX7cS1-bLxbBWWjmthd" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=5a07b1ffca&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D8051715aa8%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw3XJUVW5fRgmaJmebI7U-fb" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=8051715aa8&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a><br /><br /><em><strong><img class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgkqbbsOPwa8OLdbgGHbdTwc5vRTiYrC4sZ2mGvJLiOeCLECr7Ex9_GKRgUHCPwSM3dsplRZx7x93DcPJn9J4oIsVg26Vs3rUpEwlzG-gIDS1IaSH599l4_qYPlCoSne6p-SmHL1Vs4So_dbIfXajgDZVUIFki0pplhelfXvCFaLpUvLlPAHqULjvg-F0aPxC-2TI6EFTkQrNIS-STQpg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 112px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 75px;" width="75" />Chances</strong></em><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dd00bb575ee%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw2FXPctQc0kM9m_IkbBQU24" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=d00bb575ee&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Amazon </a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D6fc7cab1a0%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw3L7IdHAG9uwehp45TBjLpY" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=6fc7cab1a0&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">BN </a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D463a0c8a32%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw1jhWZNX92CLqZGzQAM8w92" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=463a0c8a32&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D03ff94da73%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw1B8cfb13DzSUSP62ljXZFB" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=03ff94da73&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Apple Books</a><br /><br />And then check out my Upcoming books:<br /><img class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhmBWhbzDfqNyA-uBUiyQdvSTyAAJaCHYNw1rDg6pS_9gatHyYwfyEqL1vBq0z6FBiH1pLxA6KQes0ye5RGcueyD29Cm-53H9Wh8xd0pl5tsHeqXnoSCh1-6_MllFJ-y_nbMJCXqitd6WsyaraBxougakm51YKbQ9ef1mHZjfrWIghj1NTkXCOYp0H4ShRiuP2LzzK7p5PVicDrOjhZsg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 68px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 75px;" width="75" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D885b4ff62b%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw0uBua8nhXZ6-To4pQjJKbN" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=885b4ff62b&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Surprises in All Sizes: Secret Babies Bundle</a> (I'm so thrilled to be included with all these amazing writers!)<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D5535a7ca45%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1665049909457000&usg=AOvVaw0qqaSKYVTYCLOHmbKnSTyN" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=5535a7ca45&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">By Design: Around the Square #2</a><br /><br />That's it for now! I hope you all are safe (<em>my friends in Puerto Rico and Florida have been in my thoughts</em>) and healthy. Wishing you all a wonderful fall.<br /><br />Holly</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td id="m_-7709474377288668381templateFooter" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-7709474377288668381mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37661608.post-67201521834819815102022-07-21T05:37:00.000-04:002022-07-21T05:37:21.396-04:00If They Ban It—Read It<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNCStInKevOJFUXjZmkDJhWATcqy7QjT6FebJZp-vFvyjq3iLPFNDySRbf0bTJU2pZ_rZJUPc7qTDd0PMISZ6xX8aL1L2huL5PB1gtmdhnZQxB4zWCsS54p3XMuYJEuhUb0CvFSNhtYa8TD8tdipMX5rZzVNCsU6gBTFdUqnS3_-KEZ8Ycw/s1868/BannedBooks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="1868" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNCStInKevOJFUXjZmkDJhWATcqy7QjT6FebJZp-vFvyjq3iLPFNDySRbf0bTJU2pZ_rZJUPc7qTDd0PMISZ6xX8aL1L2huL5PB1gtmdhnZQxB4zWCsS54p3XMuYJEuhUb0CvFSNhtYa8TD8tdipMX5rZzVNCsU6gBTFdUqnS3_-KEZ8Ycw/w462-h329/BannedBooks.png" width="462" /></a></div><br /><p><span> I think I was very lucky. I grew up a voracious reader. My parents never checked on what I was reading. They never really <i>noticed</i> what I was reading—probably because I read all the time. Me with a book in my hand just sort of blended in to the fabric of their lives. <br /><br />And so I read, uncensored and unfettered.<br /><br />I read everything I could get my hands on. I read my grandmother's collection of Grace Livingston Hill books. I read my mom's Reader's Digest books. I read Scholastic books from the book fair. I read books from the school library. I read books from the bookmobile. I read The Hobbit for the first time in 3rd grade. I'm sure I didn't absorb all the nuances, but that's okay. I read it again the next year. And the year after that. I read LOTR before I left grade school. Teachers noticed my reading and passed me books. One teacher in high school noticed and after I finished the class assigned books, she'd assign me extras. At the time I thought it was unfair (<i>I was working full time by my junior year and was sleep deprived a lot)</i> but in hindsight she did me a favor. She introduced me to books I might not have read without her.</span></p><p><span>When I was in high school I did a research paper on WWII. I read bits of Mein Kampf. If ever a book should be banned, this would be one. A book written by one of the most reprehensible people ever born. But it wasn't banned and reading it only showed me what evil looked like. That research paper helped me avoid falling under the spell of charismatic leaders who spend a lot of town preaching hate of "<i>Others." </i>My paper <i>(which got an A+ btw</i>) would have been less without the insights the book provided. I would have a more limited world view without knowing what evil lurks in the hearts of some men. I think it helped me find my firm belief that while I'm only one person, I can send positive energy out in the world. I can choose love. I can choose empathy. I can choose putting myself in someone else's shoes and try to see the world from their perspective. I think me free-range reading led me to my writing career.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoOVu4ZcgeBxI3l_WHfyVwTF0XtLCWAmPgr2dfSZzTWvD5ARSwTq-umtgS44gB9dZH67Fas8BeII_tbC_BurQ6JkX8JY8LzRmeYj4r0yzv7_hsfsFkKzFE8S2UeumumLytvtJ9uqvV3EnPEqH9cyKv6SJKfCVKImDuYsZpbGIQcdJTfnB_g/s672/HollyChooseLove.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="672" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoOVu4ZcgeBxI3l_WHfyVwTF0XtLCWAmPgr2dfSZzTWvD5ARSwTq-umtgS44gB9dZH67Fas8BeII_tbC_BurQ6JkX8JY8LzRmeYj4r0yzv7_hsfsFkKzFE8S2UeumumLytvtJ9uqvV3EnPEqH9cyKv6SJKfCVKImDuYsZpbGIQcdJTfnB_g/s320/HollyChooseLove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span>So when I hear that school districts around the country have begun banning books, I feel a crushing sorrow. Sorrow that people are so small minded that our country's history (<i>messy as it is)</i> threatens them. Sorrow that people are so small and scared that "Other" scares them.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjxrPw1QKvG5iUBaK1TF6DjHgPxbQOd1HZirOb09iOvH9AIZJ2K2W-bLZwCkundfRJUcsjdSDNbDUW6VugUFKowSdyCTmQSNRcG1HFwo0ElORoWJWHLKECAwf2UPMs6GDQli4FVLY_djXnHwldZfYBNyWFCmSQbDq8xoUkAp14cI_ahm0uQ/s2173/HollyChildrenBooks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2173" data-original-width="2050" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjxrPw1QKvG5iUBaK1TF6DjHgPxbQOd1HZirOb09iOvH9AIZJ2K2W-bLZwCkundfRJUcsjdSDNbDUW6VugUFKowSdyCTmQSNRcG1HFwo0ElORoWJWHLKECAwf2UPMs6GDQli4FVLY_djXnHwldZfYBNyWFCmSQbDq8xoUkAp14cI_ahm0uQ/w406-h430/HollyChildrenBooks.jpg" width="406" /></a></div>Book bans make me sorry...and angry. Again, knowing I'm just one person and I fight back in what amounts to a pebble being tossed into an ocean. I buy banned books and I read them. I talk about them. I introduce them to my Minions. I bought I am <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525428526/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer</a> after I read a York PA school district banned it last year. I was sad that it was my state...and furious as well. One of the Minions just reread it the other day and we had a huge discussion on people being unkind because someone's a different race, or religion or has some other kind of otherness. The 8yo was furious. "I mean, he couldn't even get a drink of water from a white water fountain." With all seriousness, he assured me he'd have share his water. Out of the mouths of babes.<br /><br /><b>That</b>. That is what the banners fear. That our kids will discover empathy. That they'll realize the US has a very checkered history, but—as I tell the Minions—we can make it better. It's our job to make it better. We can make it fairer. We can simply love others and realize their differences make us a stronger country. The banners don't want us to realize that our color, our religion, or sexual identity, our country of origin, our... They're all just facets of who we are. They're what makes us who we are. And who we are is absolutely perfect.<br /><br />So, buy banned books. Read banned books. And even more importantly, read banned books with your kids. Make sure they have a diverse collection of books to read. Teach them to see all the diversity in the world...and realize how beautiful it is. Teach them about the troubled moments in our country's past...and present. But teach them they can make it better. They can help America live up to our ideals. <br /><p></p><p>Holly</p><p><br /></p><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_du" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s2401/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZqXRtmTz3xh-qx48IebNB2DjIk4O1AFgMCpI0JUPtd7JdHiy4HMDnUVjQFHfrQMB79NqWssduVh_nzsGxco0mrN-m9ONHDAorXv-Di6LUfWo0m5H3R0bmSAKLhueRPQHZrhDMbMeNUL45pepW10lckzzmC4Q2hA4FU1kPQfiMqIH2a1_2g/s320/%20CHANCESamz.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></em></div><b>Chances</b>
<br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Dad7c08bf6c%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw3COZblZ5v13Q5G6C_ngAq2" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=ad7c08bf6c&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3De1b9ae1e02%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0WpRpbkYY0C-Zp0NxlXRFK" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=e1b9ae1e02&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">K</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3Ddde7d286f3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw0HmlHWmrtH9TOLDbS4sL4C" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=dde7d286f3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">obo</a><span style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: #202020; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://HollyJacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Deccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a%26id%3D3a2b099ff3%26e%3D06404a9efd&source=gmail&ust=1654556740106000&usg=AOvVaw1xvctEPHGIMPAty54LG0dB" href="https://hollyjacobs.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eccb710e7dabca0fb54b0e18a&id=3a2b099ff3&e=06404a9efd" style="color: #007c89; font-style: normal; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Apple Books </a><strong><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s3750" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC9ynzvZ-lCm5E4_EQnRhB1Us4vuxgQhyQJtnhqXTlzPJgKjBFA8q3vKKYndymIRCSl0yc4h8dx-miv468WfV5XAeYrktg4fud4pr52LAO1E_ckf72NEjfrPhSP12mEhd9RvAWN5HtivVp9cVIUkYMcUjIKW32epx5L8hB50VOpcoUoz1RzA=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br />A View to a Kiln: A Harry's Pottery Mystery</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" /><a href="https://amzn.to/31Du5iE" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" /><a href="http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1599384676" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-view-to-a-kiln" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-view-to-a-kiln-holly-jacobs/1140755004" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #007c89; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Nook</a><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>
Have you missed any of my Hometown Hearts series? Here's the list:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZynlrbhxAvoJzOoatIwm_-Vvkab8X5Brq6yOlxFPCUcx_oaLt5-RGpGXucC7Ep4SZ7-7MscpRINJSumadoLpXEhUjo4QShX_JnQ1ts8EtFXTIO54DmE_b5iIyM8sKzKrne0De/s2048/CRIB+NOTES+amz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZynlrbhxAvoJzOoatIwm_-Vvkab8X5Brq6yOlxFPCUcx_oaLt5-RGpGXucC7Ep4SZ7-7MscpRINJSumadoLpXEhUjo4QShX_JnQ1ts8EtFXTIO54DmE_b5iIyM8sKzKrne0De/w68-h102/CRIB+NOTES+amz.jpg" width="68" /></a><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">Crib Notes</b><b style="text-align: left;">: </b><span style="text-align: left;">Hometown Hearts #1</span></div></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2MZ7L8K" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../crib.../1134896527..." style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/crib-notes-1" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/crib-notes/id1487862871" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">iBook</a></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXbRO2AE4Eb1tTtqe_1VQ2gqo41fHI2G1dpxdBU0kEl3PgtDadbrpjwNkZmo7kioLsy6ZJhFtUB9t9oNSQGdySIpngUG3x3U0X4G9TRWpkPJmJQZjftefJ3HmOET2tqhD8Eum/s2048/Special+DIFFERENT+amz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXbRO2AE4Eb1tTtqe_1VQ2gqo41fHI2G1dpxdBU0kEl3PgtDadbrpjwNkZmo7kioLsy6ZJhFtUB9t9oNSQGdySIpngUG3x3U0X4G9TRWpkPJmJQZjftefJ3HmOET2tqhD8Eum/w66-h99/Special+DIFFERENT+amz.jpg" width="66" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><b>A Special Kind of Different: </b>Hometown Hearts #2</div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Rkg8Nn" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/.../a-special-kind.../id1491661950" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">iBook</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/.../ebook/a-special-kind-of-different-1" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../a-specia.../1135571887..." style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Nook</a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSr9tpeMiNSd405NpvF7IJ2fuS0tKLqz3ZThmD6p_qRt2vZneYFliHvuib-LSBCHIOmL7z4khyem8zGSCmg3hyP47HXF_mby3y4phSEyolX9tzFCiT_ALEUo4s8XZ4irvDhtF/s2048/HOMECOMING+amz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSr9tpeMiNSd405NpvF7IJ2fuS0tKLqz3ZThmD6p_qRt2vZneYFliHvuib-LSBCHIOmL7z4khyem8zGSCmg3hyP47HXF_mby3y4phSEyolX9tzFCiT_ALEUo4s8XZ4irvDhtF/w66-h100/HOMECOMING+amz.jpg" width="66" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div><b>Homecoming</b><span style="font-weight: 700;">: </span><span>Hometown Hearts #3</span></div><div>Ki<a href="https://amzn.to/3alvDgM" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">n</a><a href="https://amzn.to/3alvDgM" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">dl</a><a href="https://amzn.to/3alvDgM" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">e</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/homecoming-188%C2%A0" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/homecoming/id1495247676" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">I</a><a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/homecoming/id1495247676" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Books</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/homecoming-holly-jacobs/1136057424?ean=2940162797227" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Nook</a></div></div></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn80IF92BqsYmlTSOMfI-9HkwfnXSxeU4IqcMzRYY22XGeplP-lQ6RLTHXKGq0r-wj8JiiqqF_hNBCA1buVICuGODuOq9tl9EEZVuXzUN4iepDw-f1TQ-hd_mCglCyyqPC1Vgi/s2048/SUDDENLY+FATHER+amz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn80IF92BqsYmlTSOMfI-9HkwfnXSxeU4IqcMzRYY22XGeplP-lQ6RLTHXKGq0r-wj8JiiqqF_hNBCA1buVICuGODuOq9tl9EEZVuXzUN4iepDw-f1TQ-hd_mCglCyyqPC1Vgi/w65-h98/SUDDENLY+FATHER+amz.jpg" width="65" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica;"> <b style="font-size: 16px;">Suddenly a Father</b><span style="font-size: 16px;">: Hometown Hearts #4</span></span></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2WLRh99" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/suddenly-a-father-3" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suddenly-a-father-holly-jacobs/1137055043?ean=2940163011438" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/suddenly-a-father/id1514160436" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">iBooks</a></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7S_0e5WpcIof0uk04-ZtZ3iJpn3v8-CxBwZSRzCilUjZ3d-UJ65GvHR0r6MhxRuyIsFtsdDLoPyzvQpB5cVKYDp7le4wUkja-iY4a8kaE2p_lqRhZFShTtfJBoiwquY5rg0X/s2048/SOMETHING+BORROWED+Amazon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7S_0e5WpcIof0uk04-ZtZ3iJpn3v8-CxBwZSRzCilUjZ3d-UJ65GvHR0r6MhxRuyIsFtsdDLoPyzvQpB5cVKYDp7le4wUkja-iY4a8kaE2p_lqRhZFShTtfJBoiwquY5rg0X/w66-h99/SOMETHING+BORROWED+Amazon.jpg" width="66" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><b>Something Borrowed</b>: Hometown Hearts #5</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3hjXGQ3" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3hjXGQ3" target="_blank">Kindle</a><span style="color: #202020;">, </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-borrowed-30" target="_blank">Kobo</a><span style="color: #202020;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-borrowed-holly-jacobs/1137502444?ean=2940163018031" target="_blank">Nook</a><span style="color: #202020;">, </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/something-borrowed/id1528217729" target="_blank">iBooks</a></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmPu-o9J3mBjnCo-W4RmftJNUYvYcLwzoyTtG9SJtGE2ebd_rltFeu1Z3cvWaGb0RcFGIEaElut_VG_menZy8Uy9tx0yEyeG0Ba13LugE_kPSJ6q8MaBizGPqUb48o7VvD2Fq/s2048/SOMETHING+BLUE+AMZ.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmPu-o9J3mBjnCo-W4RmftJNUYvYcLwzoyTtG9SJtGE2ebd_rltFeu1Z3cvWaGb0RcFGIEaElut_VG_menZy8Uy9tx0yEyeG0Ba13LugE_kPSJ6q8MaBizGPqUb48o7VvD2Fq/w68-h102/SOMETHING+BLUE+AMZ.jpg" width="68" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Something Blue</b>: Hometown Hearts #6 </span><div style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3aTZlw6" style="color: #202020;" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3aTZlw6" style="color: #202020;" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-blue-35" style="color: #202020;" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-blue-holly-jacobs/1138517324?ean=2940162737728" style="color: #202020;" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/something-blue/id1548927025" style="color: #202020;">Apple Books</a></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYCzJ-vAPaICORTxgA6XsuO5jONpqSvnawswssED9wJjgR-XEElcwc-Jbp_FZswi0_gSReBiRm6cclcZj2UmYPJW7_Lh77T-97jU3huz-cyJJHp8XtBpbH8UzdVZZFqeocTAc/s2048/SOMETHING+PERFECT+AMZ.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYCzJ-vAPaICORTxgA6XsuO5jONpqSvnawswssED9wJjgR-XEElcwc-Jbp_FZswi0_gSReBiRm6cclcZj2UmYPJW7_Lh77T-97jU3huz-cyJJHp8XtBpbH8UzdVZZFqeocTAc/w70-h105/SOMETHING+PERFECT+AMZ.jpg" width="70" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div><b>Something Perfect</b>: Hometown Hearts #7 </div><div><a href=" https://books.apple.com/us/book/something-perfect/id1552805191" target="_blank">Apple Books</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-perfect-holly-jacobs/1138792035?" target="_blank">Nook</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-perfect" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3b4YzLt" target="_blank">Kindle</a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-KaV1QTwzJD9CSFQGvjFv1CjfDygRXuotlt9GjoGnnRGTeSaKr9zDZ4NGHTEWCUNd-CO6LgY7yB1l-vsaEHHrnyUyb6Zdoh53HueL1ZXx3pZD-Q5YHq9CdV1Y1xEv8Sirtxl/s1463/SomethingUnexpected.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="991" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-KaV1QTwzJD9CSFQGvjFv1CjfDygRXuotlt9GjoGnnRGTeSaKr9zDZ4NGHTEWCUNd-CO6LgY7yB1l-vsaEHHrnyUyb6Zdoh53HueL1ZXx3pZD-Q5YHq9CdV1Y1xEv8Sirtxl/w77-h114/SomethingUnexpected.jpg" width="77" /></a></div><p><i><br /></i><b>Something Unexpected</b>: A Hometown Hearts short story <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3sd959O" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ97tYIRMZONLKalP197hG9MqsGHdL1WbVRzl0ObsM3B5hnhNDG4QUpZHVWAo8Ii4mg7TsKuUxpGsfaWF05mSmrA0MGLtF-chfWFDng-_J5JngGUcvqpQcmzyj0VFlVg3PZSj/s2048/HOMETOWN+CHRISTMAS+AMZ.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ97tYIRMZONLKalP197hG9MqsGHdL1WbVRzl0ObsM3B5hnhNDG4QUpZHVWAo8Ii4mg7TsKuUxpGsfaWF05mSmrA0MGLtF-chfWFDng-_J5JngGUcvqpQcmzyj0VFlVg3PZSj/w82-h123/HOMETOWN+CHRISTMAS+AMZ.jpg" width="82" /></a></div><p><b>A Hometown Christmas</b>: Hometown Hearts #8<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3mLsbmu" target="_blank">Kindle</a> <br /><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-hometown-christmas-holly-jacobs/1139217375" target="_blank">Nook</a><br /><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/hometown-christmas/id1562701981" target="_blank">AppleBooks</a><br /><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-hometown-christmas" target="_blank">Kobo</a></p><p><br style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /></p></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="l9j0dhe7" id="jsc_c_dv" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="l9j0dhe7" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div></div><br />HollyJacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976828070256110899noreply@blogger.com6